After initially threatening to boycott the event, Iran has reversed its decision and will attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw in Washington, D.C. on Friday. The change of heart follows a dispute with the United States over visa approvals for the Iranian delegation.
The Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) initially announced it would not participate in the draw after several members of its delegation were denied visas by the United States. Among those reportedly denied a visa was Mehdi Taj, the president of the FFIRI. In response, Iran informed FIFA that no Iranian officials would attend the ceremony unless all visas were granted. The federation spokesperson, Amir Mehdi Alavi, stated that the U.S. decisions were "unsportsmanlike".
However, the situation has evolved, and Iran will now send representatives to the draw. According to Iranian media, the head coach of the national team, Amir Ghalenoei, will participate in the draw along with Omid Jamali, the head of the federation's international relations department. Ahmad Donyamali, Iran's sports minister, confirmed that their representatives have visas and will attend the World Cup draw. While some reports suggest one or two other staff members may accompany Ghalenoei, it remains unclear if all visa issues have been resolved.
The draw, scheduled for Friday at 18:00 CET, will divide the 48 qualified teams into 12 groups of four. The teams will be allocated into four pots based on FIFA's latest men's world rankings, with one team from each pot being drawn into each group. As co-hosts, Canada, Mexico, and the United States are automatically placed in Pot 1, along with the nine top-ranked teams.
Iran secured its spot in the 2026 World Cup after a 2-2 draw with Uzbekistan in March, marking their fourth consecutive World Cup appearance and seventh overall. Throughout the qualification process, Iran demonstrated strong performance, securing their place with dominant wins. They are among the first teams to qualify for the tournament.
Despite their consistent presence in the World Cup, Iran has yet to progress beyond the group stage. However, there is optimism that this could change in 2026, with hopes high that the team will advance to the knockout phase.
The decision to attend the draw signals a possible easing of tensions between Iran and the United States, though the visa issue remains sensitive. Strict U.S. entry regulations for Iranian citizens have long posed logistical challenges for travel. A travel ban issued by then U.S. President Donald Trump in June restricted entry for citizens of several countries, including Iran, raising concerns about the participation of Iranian fans and officials in the World Cup. While exemptions were made for athletes and support staff traveling for major international events, securing visas has remained a hurdle. FIFA has introduced the FIFA Pass to prioritize visa applications for World Cup ticket holders, but success is not guaranteed.
