(L to R) Sardar Azmoun, Mehdi Taremi, and Alireza Jahanbakhsh are Iran’s three most prominent players(Image: Getty Images)
The 2026 World Cup draw is set for Friday in Washington, D.C., and looked poised to have representatives from all qualifying nations — except Iran — in attendance.
However, the Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) confirmed they will be in attendance for Friday’s event, set to also include Donald Trump. Rio Ferdinand, the Village People, Kevin Hart, Tom Brady, and others.
Three of the seven members of the FFIRI were originally denied visas — including federation president Mehdi Taj — amid Iran’s status as one of 12 countries limiting nationals from entering the United States.
Per the White House, exceptions were supposed to be granted for “any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the Secretary of State.”
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Last week, Taj told an Iranian paper that attendance seemed out of the question. “We remain in close communication with the Iranian foreign ministry and other authorities, and we will take the necessary decision at the appropriate time,” he said.
The current position of the Iran Football Federation executive committee is that no one will attend the event unless all visas are issued.”
President Trump looked to limit immigration and migration from Iran earlier this year(Image: Getty Images)
“It appears to us that the matter has become politicised,” Taj continued. “We informed the FIFA president, Mr. Infantino, that they have taken a political stance and the situation is completely politicised….We believe that FIFA should take a stand against such behaviour.”
Ahmad Donyamali, the Iranian sports minister, sang a different tune when speaking to a local agency on Thursday. “Our representatives have a visa and should participate in the World Cup draw,” he said, also confirming that the federation’s head coach, Amir Ghalenoei, will be in attendance.
Iranian federation president Mehdi Taj was originally rejected from coming to the United States(Image: Getty Images)
Iran qualified for the tournament with relative ease, topping their Asian qualifying third-round group after winning seven of 10 games. Their sole loss came on the road against Qatar.
The Middle Eastern nation has now qualified for five consecutive World Cups after missing the 2010 tournament. Iran has not made it out of the group stage.
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The veteran squad is led by a trio of 30+ attacking players: Mehdi Taremi (Olympiakos), Sardar Azmoun (Shabab Al Ahli), and Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Dender).
They are one of eight Asian nations to qualify for the expanding tournament, joining Japan, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Jordan, Australia, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. Iraq can still qualify for the Intercontinental playoffs.