Tehran: Iran’s Football Federation has announced it will boycott the final draw ceremony for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after the United States denied visas to several key members of its delegation. The draw is scheduled for December 5 in Washington, D.C.
Speaking to state-run IRIB TV on Friday, federation spokesman Amir Mehdi Alavi said the decision followed “necessary inquiries, internal discussions, and consultations” with Iran’s Ministry of Sports and Youth and the Foreign Ministry. He condemned the U.S. action as “non-sporting.”
Alavi confirmed that FIFA officials, including President Gianni Infantino, have been informed of Iran’s boycott and the visa issue, with FIFA assuring that it will take the matter seriously.
According to the Iranian Students’ News Agency, the visa denials affected several key officials, including federation President Mehdi Taj, preventing them from attending the draw. Four delegation members, including men’s national team head coach Amir Ghalenoei, were granted visas.
The expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup is set to take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, marking the first edition staged across three nations. A total of 16 stadiums have been selected for matches, with three venues in Mexico, two in Canada, and the remaining 11 in major U.S. cities.
The official draw will divide the 48 teams into 12 groups of four, with the top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-place finishers, advancing to an expanded knockout stage, creating a larger and more competitive elimination bracket than in previous tournaments.
Iran has already qualified for the 2026 World Cup, marking its fourth consecutive appearance and seventh overall, highlighting the nation’s sustained prominence in Asian football.
With IANS inputs