Iran’s football authorities have announced that they will not take part in next week’s 2026 FIFA World Cup draw in Washington, D.C., following the U.S. government’s refusal to grant visas to several high-ranking members of the Iranian delegation.
According to Iranian officials, only four individuals were approved for entry into the United States: national team head coach Amir Ghalenoei, executive director Mahdi Kharati, international relations chief Omid Jamali, and federation spokesperson Amir Mahdi Alavi. Visa applications for federation president Mehdi Taj, senior official Mahdi Nabi, and delegation member Mahdi Malek-Abad were reportedly rejected.
The decision comes despite earlier assurances from FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who had told Iranian representatives in September that the organization would work to resolve any visa complications ahead of the draw.
Iranian sports outlet Varzesh 3 first reported that several key officials had been denied entry, including federation president Mehdi Taj. By Thursday, Taj publicly criticized the U.S. action, calling it a politically motivated move and urging FIFA to intervene. “This is purely a political stance,” he said, insisting that FIFA should pressure U.S. authorities to reconsider.
While a small group of Iranian delegates—among them coach Ghalenoei—did ultimately receive approval to attend the December 5 event, the continued rejection of visas for Taj and three others prompted Iran’s football federation to opt out entirely.
Iran had secured its place at the 2026 World Cup in March, marking the nation’s fourth consecutive qualification and seventh overall. However, federation spokesperson Amir Mahdi Alavi told the Tehran Times that the visa denials had “nothing to do with sport,” warning that the situation could escalate further and even affect Iran’s participation in the tournament itself.
