Iran’s Football Federation says it will boycott next week’s draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, after the United States refused to issue visas to several key members of its official delegation.
The draw is scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., and marks the formal kickoff of preparations for the global tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
In a statement on Friday, the Iranian Football Federation (IFF) described the U.S. decision as “unsportsmanlike” and politically motivated. The federation said it was forced to withdraw because the visa denials made it impossible to send a complete delegation to the event.
IFF officials said only four visas were approved, including one for head coach Amir Ghalenoei. However, visas were denied for several senior officials — most notably IFF President Mehdi Taj and other members responsible for logistical, administrative, and technical coordination during the draw.
Speaking to Iran’s state television, Taj condemned the move, saying it “has nothing to do with sports” and directly affects Iran’s ability to participate in an essential pre-tournament process. He said the federation has formally complained to FIFA and asked the world football body to pressure the U.S. to reverse its decision.
“We have told the head of FIFA, Mr. Infantino, that this is purely a political position and that FIFA must tell them to desist from this behavior,” Taj said.
The IFF added that FIFA has promised to “follow up on the matter seriously,” though it remains unclear what action the organization can take, given that host nations manage their own visa and entry policies.
The U.S. government maintains long-standing, strict visa rules for Iranian nationals due to diplomatic tensions and security concerns. Washington has not commented publicly on the specific visa rejections.
Iran qualified for the 2026 World Cup in March, securing what will be the nation’s seventh appearance at the global tournament.
The incident now injects a new layer of political tension into preparations for the 2026 World Cup — a tournament already set against the backdrop of decades-long U.S.–Iran hostility and a series of previous disputes between the two nations in international sports.
