WANA (Nov 28) – Iran’s Football Federation will not send a delegation to next week’s World Cup draw in the United States due to visa problems, the federation’s spokesperson announced on Friday.

 

In a televised interview, Amir-Mahdi Alavi, the federation’s spokesperson, said that after multiple internal meetings and consultations with the Ministry of Sports and Youth and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was decided that no Iranian delegation would attend the draw ceremony.

 

According to Alavi, the decision follows obstacles in the visa issuance process for official members of the federation, a situation he said has moved “beyond the realm of purely sporting matters.”

 

He added that the federation has formally communicated the issue to FIFA President Gianni Infantino and FIFA’s Secretary General over the past two days. FIFA has responded that it is investigating the matter.

 

Alavi warned that failure to issue visas for federation members could create further problems for the national team during the World Cup itself, potentially affecting players or support staff. Such disruptions, he said, could directly influence the team’s preparations and participation.

 

The spokesperson noted that Iran has no prior history of visa issues for World Cup events, referencing both the 1978 World Cup and more recent tournaments.

 

Alavi emphasized the importance of having the federation’s technical and administrative personnel—including the security manager, executive director, international relations officials, logistics staff, and ticketing representatives—present at pre-tournament workshops. Their absence, he said, would cause serious difficulties in technical planning and logistical coordination.

 

Addressing speculation in some media outlets about a possible withdrawal from the World Cup, Alavi said that no such statement has been made by the federation’s president. “Our goal is to ensure the national team’s participation,” he said, expressing hope that FIFA’s intervention will resolve the visa issue. He stressed that any obstacles should not stem from non-sporting decisions that could harm Iran’s football future.

 

Alavi concluded by expressing hope that the issue will be resolved quickly through international football bodies so that the national team’s preparations can continue without tension.

 

The World Cup draw ceremony is scheduled for December 5 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

 

Previously, the U.S. State Department had rejected visa applications for a nine-member Iranian football delegation, including Mehdi Taj, president of the Iranian Football Federation, and national team coach Amir Ghalenoei, effectively ruling out their participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw ceremony in Washington, D.C.

 

Victor Montagliani, FIFA vice president and president of CONCACAF, also sought to reassure that the U.S. government’s visa restrictions would not prevent Iran’s national team from competing in the tournament itself. Speaking in London, he said the location of Iran’s matches will be determined solely by the December draw, not by geopolitical considerations.

 

“We have received assurances from all three host governments — the United States, Canada, and Mexico — that qualified teams will be allowed entry and participation in the tournament,” Montagliani emphasized. “With all due respect to the world’s political leaders, football is bigger than them. The game will outlast regimes, governments, and their slogans.”

FIFA’s Solution for Iran National Team’s U.S. Travel Issue

FIFA’s Solution for Iran National Team’s U.S. Travel Issue. Social media/ WANA News Agency