Washington: Iran has officially announced it will boycott the FIFA World Cup 2026 draw in Washington, D.C., after the United States refused to issue visas to multiple members of the Iranian delegation, escalating a simmering diplomatic dispute into the world of international football.
A spokesperson for the Iran Football Federation (FFIRI) confirmed on Friday that Tehran has notified FIFA of its decision, stressing that the situation “has nothing to do with sports” and accusing the US of politicising a global sporting event.
According to Iranian sports outlet Varzesh 3, the US denied visas to several high-ranking officials, including federation president Mehdi Taj. Speaking on Thursday, Taj criticised the US government’s move as “entirely political” and urged FIFA President Gianni Infantino to intervene.
“We have told the head of FIFA that this is purely a political position and that FIFA must demand the United States stop behaving this way,” Taj said.
Despite the controversy, the report noted that four members of the delegation — including national team head coach Amir Ghalenoei — did receive their visas ahead of the December 5 draw.
Iran’s World Cup History
Iran secured its place at the 2026 World Cup, marking its fourth consecutive and seventh overall qualification. While the team has never progressed beyond the group stage, some of its most memorable moments include the famous 2–1 victory over the United States in 1998, followed by a 1–0 loss to the US in 2022.
Broader Political Context
The latest dispute emerges against a backdrop of more than four decades of strained relations between Washington and Tehran. Although indirect nuclear negotiations resumed in April, discussions stalled amid disagreements over uranium enrichment.
Tensions escalated further when, in mid-June, Israel launched a large-scale bombing campaign against Iran, triggering a brief regional conflict in which the United States conducted targeted strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
The US is co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico, making the diplomatic fallout particularly notable ahead of football’s biggest event.
