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Iran threatens World Cup draw boycott over visa row
30 Nov
Summary
- Iran's delegation faces limited visa access from the US.
- Federation president Taj expressed concerns to Fifa leadership.
- Iran's football body will not attend if all visas aren't issued.
Iran's participation in the 2026 World Cup draw, set to occur in Washington D.C. on Friday, is in jeopardy due to a visa dispute with the United States. The Iranian delegation has reportedly received only four visas, a number deemed insufficient, crucially excluding the federation's president, Mehdi Taj.
Taj has escalated the matter by discussing the visa situation with Fifa president Gianni Infantino. He indicated that Iran's football federation is carefully considering its next steps, pending further developments and timing. The federation's executive committee has issued a clear ultimatum: they will not attend the draw if the U.S. does not issue visas for their entire delegation.
The draw is scheduled for December 5th at 17:00 GMT. This boycott threat highlights ongoing diplomatic tensions and their impact on international sporting events. The outcome hinges on the U.S. government's response to Iran's demands.
