Iran has announced it will not participate in the 2026 World Cup draw set to take place in Washington next week due to visa denials for its delegation members, according to the state-run IRNA news agency on Friday.
Amir-Mahdi Alavi, spokesman for the Iranian soccer federation, stated that the delegation faced visa challenges that extend beyond the realm of sports.
No immediate response has been provided by the White House.
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Alavi mentioned that the federation had contacted FIFA in hopes of finding a resolution to the visa issue. FIFA has not yet responded to requests for comment.
In June, the Trump administration implemented a travel ban affecting citizens from 12 countries, including Iran, alongside Haiti, which recently qualified for the World Cup.
However, exemptions were promised for “any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches and essential support personnel, as well as immediate family members, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting events as determined by the secretary of state.”
It remains unclear if these exemptions would apply to the World Cup draw scheduled for Dec. 5 at the Kennedy Center.
The Iranian delegation was expected to be led by Mehdi Taj, president of its soccer federation and a prominent figure in Asian soccer, who also serves on two FIFA committees overseeing the World Cup.
He holds a vice-presidential position in the Asian Football Confederation and participates in FIFA committees related to competitions and men’s national team soccer.
The upcoming World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, will feature a record 48 teams.