Iran will boycott the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, on December 5 after several members of its delegation were denied visas for attending the event, emphasising how political issues can impact major sporting events.

Here’s breaking down the reasons behind the boycott, FIFA’s reaction, and the wider context of US visa restrictions impacting other World Cup participants.

Why is Iran boycotting the FIFA World Cup draw?

The Iranian football federation (FFIRI) decided to boycott the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw after the United States refused to grant visas to several important members of its delegation, including federation president Mehdi Taj.

Denying him a visa is significant since Taj is part of two governing body committees that have oversight of the tournament. He is also a vice-president of the Asian Football Confederation.

Only four officials, including Iran’s head coach Amir Ghalenoei, got visas, with the FFIRI saying that the decisions by the US authorities were “unsportsmanlike”.

“The Iranian delegation will not be present for the World Cup draw in relation to the latest status of issuing visas for the Iranian delegation to attend the draw ceremony.

“Given that the decisions taken are unsportsmanlike and the path has deviated from the sporting process, it was decided that the Iranian delegation will not attend the draw ceremony,” FFIRI spokesman Amir Mehdi Alavi was quoted as saying by local sports news website Tarafdari.

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It is important to note that the boycott is restricted only to the draw ceremony and not the tournament itself. The draw determines the group stage match-ups and Iran’s absence will be conspicuous, even if the team participates in the competition itself.

A record 48 teams will take part in the tournament to be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11-July 19 next year.

What does FIFA have to say about Iran’s boycott?

The Iranian football federation has reportedly been in contact with FIFA over the issue, with Alavi saying that the global football body would follow up on the issue with seriousness.

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“FIFA has said it will follow up on the matter seriously,” he said.

The Donald Trump administration had, on November 17, created the FIFA Pass, a scheme that would give World Cup ticket-holders priority access for visa interviews to enter the United States.

While FIFA has emphasised its commitment to inclusion and fairness, the situation puts the governing body in a difficult position. The United States is known to enforce stringent visa policies for citizens of certain countries, and it is now up to FIFA to balance sporting fairness with political realities.

What is the broader significance of Iran’s boycott?

Global sporting events have traditionally been viewed as neutral ground, but visa refusals and other restrictions indicate how political considerations can intrude into seemingly apolitical arenas.

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The situation also throws light on the logistical challenges of hosting such a prestigious tournament in a country that has imposed a blanket ban on certain nationalities. Officials and federations may face complex planning issues in the run-up to the competition, particularly when visas are denied or delayed for political reasons.

Which are the other nations subjected to entry bans in the US, and will any of those feature at the World Cup?

In June, Trump issued a “Presidential Proclamation”, which restricted the entry of citizens from 12 nations – Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen – into the United States.

The proclamation, however, said that athletes, coaches, or “persons performing a necessary support role” who were travelling for the World Cup or any other major sporting event were exempt from the ban.

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Along with Iran, Haiti is the other country on the list that has qualified for the World Cup, making the cut after beating Nicaragua 2-0 in the CONCACAF qualification round. It will be their first appearance in the marquee event since the 1974 edition in West Germany.
Following Haiti’s qualification, the US State Department told the POLITICO website that there won’t be any exemptions for Haitian fans who wish to travel for the World Cup next year.