Iran will boycott the 2026 World Cup finals draw in Washington after the United States refused to issue visas to several members of its official delegation, the Iranian football federation confirmed on Friday.
A spokesperson for the federation told state television that the decision “has nothing to do with sports,” stressing that the entire Iranian delegation will now skip the December 5 draw.
Visa Denials Spark Diplomatic Tension
According to Iranian sports outlet Varzesh 3, the US declined to grant visas to multiple senior officials, including federation president Mehdi Taj. While four members — including national team coach Amir Ghalenoei — did receive visas, the federation insists the restrictions were discriminatory and politically motivated.
Mehdi Taj condemned the US decision, saying:
“We informed FIFA President Gianni Infantino that this was a purely political act. FIFA must tell the US to desist from such behaviour.”
A Long History of Political Strains
Iran qualified for the 2026 World Cup in March, securing its fourth consecutive appearance and seventh overall. Despite never reaching the knockout stage, the team has a memorable history with the US, famously defeating them 2–1 at the 1998 World Cup. The US won the most recent encounter 1–0 in the 2022 tournament.
Washington and Tehran have endured decades of political hostility. Although talks resumed in April aimed at easing nuclear tensions, negotiations collapsed after Israel launched a major strike on Iran in mid-June, triggering a 12-day conflict that briefly drew in the US.
With the United States co-hosting the 2026 World Cup with Canada and Mexico, Iran’s boycott of the draw highlights how geopolitical rifts continue to spill into the world of international sports.
