TEHRAN: Iran has announced a boycott of the Federation International Football Association (FIFA) World Cup 2026 draw scheduled to be held in Washington on December 5, after the United States refused to issue visas to key members of its delegation.
According to Iranian Football Federation spokesperson Amir Mehdi Alavi, the Iranian delegation will not attend the ceremony because the US issued visas to only four officials while denying entry to several others, including the team’s head coach and Federation President Mehdi Taj.
The spokesperson termed the US decision a violation of sporting principles. Reports indicate that the Iranian Football Federation has officially informed FIFA of its decision.
It is worth noting that Iran qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in March.