Iran Withdraws from World Cup Draw Due to U.S. Visa Issues

Staff Report: PNN

Iran has announced that it will not participate in the World Cup final draw in Washington next week. The decision comes after the United States denied visas to several members of their delegation.

A spokesperson for the Iranian Football Federation told state television, “We have informed FIFA that these decisions are not related to sports. Therefore, the Iranian delegation will not attend the World Cup draw.”

Iranian sports website Varzesh3 reported that key members, including Federation President Mehdi Taj, were on the visa denial list. Taj called this a politically motivated decision and said, “We have informed FIFA President Gianni Infantino that this is entirely a political stance, and FIFA must instruct the U.S. to refrain from this behavior.”

However, some members, including coach Amir Galenoie, received visas to participate in the December 5 draw.

Iran qualified for the 2026 World Cup in March, marking their fourth consecutive and seventh overall qualification. Iran has never reached the knockout stage but famously defeated the U.S. 2-1 in the 1998 World Cup in France. In 2022, the U.S. defeated Iran 1-0 in retaliation.

The United States, co-hosting with Canada and Mexico, has had over four decades of political and diplomatic tension with Iran. High-level nuclear talks were ongoing from April, but in June, Israel carried out a surprise bombing targeting Iran, initiating a 12-day conflict in which the U.S. temporarily participated by striking Iranian nuclear facilities.

Iranian football fans are disappointed that their team cannot participate in the World Cup draw.