Washington D.C. – The White House announced today that fans from Iran and Haiti will be barred from entering the United States during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. According to an official statement released by the White House Press Secretary, this decision is based on national security concerns.
The ban applies specifically to fans seeking to attend the tournament. Official delegations representing the Iranian and Haitian national teams will be permitted entry, subject to standard visa application procedures.
This announcement comes amidst existing tensions between the United States and Iran. Recently, the Iranian Football Federation boycotted the World Cup draw, scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., citing dissatisfaction with the number of visas allocated to their delegation.
While visas were reportedly granted to four members of the Iranian delegation, including coach Amir Ghalenoei, a visa request for Federation President Mehdi Taj was allegedly denied. This prompted strong condemnation from Tehran and ultimately led to their withdrawal from the draw event.
DZWatch will continue to monitor this developing situation and provide updates as they become available.
