Iran’s Football Federation has decided to abstain from the 2026 FIFA World Cup final draw event due to the United States’ refusal to issue visas to a number of important members of its delegation. The draw will take place in Washington, D.C. on December 5.
Amir Mehdi Alavi, a spokesman for the federation, told state-run IRIB TV on Friday that the decision was made following proper investigations, internal deliberations, and contacts with Iran’s Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Sports and Youth. He denounced the American conduct as “non-sporting.”
However, “any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the Secretary of State” were guaranteed exemptions.
Alavi affirmed that FIFA officials, including President Gianni Infantino, were made aware of the boycott and the visa issue. According to Xinhua, he pointed out that FIFA has now pledged to treat the issue seriously.
Mehdi Taj, the president of the federation, was among the important individuals impacted by the visa denials, according to the Iranian Students’ News Agency. On the other hand, Amir Ghalenoei, the head coach of the men’s national team, was one of four members that received visas.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw: What Is It?
The United States, Canada, and Mexico will jointly host the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup from June 11 to July 19, 2026. This would be the first time the competition has been held across three countries. A total of sixteen stadiums have been chosen to host games; three are in Mexico, two are in Canada, and the remaining eleven are dispersed throughout significant American cities.
The official draw will split the 48 competing teams into 12 groups of four teams each for the tournament’s structure. A larger and more difficult elimination bracket than in previous editions will be created after the group round, with the top two teams from each group and the eight highest-ranked third-place finishers moving on to an extended knockout phase.
Iran, one of the qualified teams, has earned a spot in the 2026 World Cup. This is the country’s eighth participation overall and its fourth consecutive appearance on the greatest football platform, highlighting its ongoing significance in Asian football.
