Iran has announced it will not attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw in Washington, DC, after the United States rejected visa applications for several top members of its football delegation, including Iranian Football Federation President Mehdi Taj.
The federation said on Friday that it had formally informed FIFA of its withdrawal and criticised the US move as politically motivated and contrary to the principles of sport.
Amir Mehdi Alavi, spokesman for the federation, told Iranian sports website Tarafdari: "The Iranian delegation will not be present for the World Cup draw in relation to the latest status of issuing visas for the Iranian delegation to attend the draw ceremony."
He described the US actions as "unsportsmanlike," saying they occurred in the lead-up to the December 5 event.
Earlier this week, Iranian media outlet Varzesh 3 reported that US authorities had refused visas to key officials, including Mehdi Taj.
While the US did grant entry to four members of the delegation, among them national team coach Amir Ghalenoei, the federation argued that selective approval amounted to unequal treatment and undermined fairness.
Mehdi Taj publicly criticised the decision on Thursday, stating that it represented political interference in sport. He urged FIFA to intervene, arguing that the refusal violated the neutrality expected in international football competitions.
"We have told the head of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, that it is purely a political position and that FIFA must tell them (the US) to desist from this behaviour," he said.
According to Tarafdari, Iran has been communicating with FIFA officials for the past two days. The federation said it had received assurances that the governing body would address the matter seriously. "FIFA has said it will follow up on the matter seriously," Alavi confirmed.
Iran earned its spot in the 2026 World Cup in March after a 2-2 draw with Uzbekistan in Tehran, marking the nation’s seventh overall qualification for the tournament and fourth consecutive appearance.
The federation’s decision to withdraw from the draw highlights rising tensions between sports and international politics, raising questions about how off-field issues might affect global football events.
With the draw scheduled for early December, Iran’s absence could complicate proceedings and draw attention to the intersection of diplomacy and sport.
The federation remains focused on ensuring its team’s preparation for the tournament continues unhindered despite the diplomatic hurdles.
