Tehran, DZWatch – The Iranian Football Federation has announced its decision to boycott the upcoming draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scheduled to take place next Friday in Washington, D.C.
The Iranian national team secured its qualification for the World Cup from the Asian continent in March. FIFA had placed Iran in Pot 2 ahead of the draw.
The decision to boycott stems from the United States authorities’ refusal to grant entry visas to several members of the Iranian delegation.
In a statement, the Iranian Football Federation emphasized that it had informed FIFA that these decisions are unrelated to the field of sports. The federation asserted that its delegation would not attend the World Cup draw ceremony.
This move throws a shadow over Iran’s participation in the prestigious tournament and raises questions about the intersection of politics and sports on the international stage. The federation views the visa denials as a politically motivated act that undermines the spirit of fair play and international cooperation, principles that FIFA is meant to uphold.
The absence of Iranian representatives at the draw will undoubtedly be noted by the global football community. It remains to be seen how FIFA will respond to this situation and whether any further measures will be taken to address the concerns raised by the Iranian Football Federation.
The 2026 World Cup, to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is already shaping up to be a tournament filled with both excitement and controversy. This latest development adds another layer of complexity to the event, highlighting the challenges of organizing a global sporting competition in an increasingly polarized world.
