Iran Delegation to Attend World Cup Draw After Visa Dispute
A delegation from Iran is set to attend the draw for the 2026 World Cup in the United States on Friday, following previous threats to boycott the event due to a visa dispute.
Iran initially applied for nine visas but was granted only four, with Mehdi Taj, the president of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI), among those whose applications were denied.
This week, Taj communicated with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, stating that no representatives from Iran would attend the draw unless all visas were approved.
Despite this, Iran's head coach Amir Ghalenoi and Omid Jamali, the FFIRI's head of international relations, have already traveled to the U.S. and may be joined by additional delegates.
The draw is scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., at 17:00 GMT.
Iran has qualified for its seventh World Cup and its fourth consecutively.
The U.S., co-hosting the tournament with Canada and Mexico, has historically imposed strict visa restrictions on Iranians due to political and security concerns.
In June, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order prohibiting nationals from 12 countries from entering the U.S., citing the need to manage security threats. Iran is among the nations affected by this ban, although the order is intended to exempt athletes and coaching staff traveling for the World Cup and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.