"Iran is to boycott next week's draw for the 2026 World Cup after several members of its planned delegation were denied visas for the United States. A spokesman for the Iranian Football Association (FFIRI) announced on Friday that it would not be sending a delegation to Washington for the draw for the group stage of next year's World Cup. "We have informed FIFA that the decisions taken have nothing to do with sports and the members of the Iranian delegation will not participate in the World Cup draw," FFIRI spokesman Amir Mahdi Alavi told state television."
"He said the move was in protest over the fact that several members of the Iranian delegation had not been granted visas to enter the United States. According to the English-language website Tehran Times, FFIRI President Mehdi Taj is among those refused entry. US President Donald Trump has imposed a general entry ban on Iranian citizens, with limited exceptions. The Trump executive order makes exceptions for, among others, "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.""
Iran will not send a delegation to the 2026 World Cup group-stage draw in Washington after several planned delegation members were denied United States visas. The Iranian Football Federation informed FIFA that the visa decisions have nothing to do with sports and that the delegation will not participate. Tehran Times reports that FFIRI President Mehdi Taj is among those refused entry. The United States has a general entry ban on Iranian citizens under President Trump, with limited exceptions that exempt athletes, coaches and necessary support personnel. Iranian and Haitian fans would be affected, while national team players and coaches are exempt. Iran will compete in its fourth consecutive and seventh overall World Cup appearance and has not yet advanced to the knockout stage.
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