WASHINGTON, D.C. – The president of Iran’s Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, and national team manager, Amir Ghalenoei, have reportedly been unable to secure U.S. visas to attend the 2026 World Cup draw scheduled for December 5 in Washington, D.C., according to reports from the Tehran Times and BBC Persian.
The officials were among nine Iranian applicants whose visas were not issued. The Iranian football federation has stated that the decision is not yet final and that it is pursuing the matter through FIFA, world football’s governing body.
The visa denials come against the backdrop of a travel ban instituted by former U.S. President Donald Trump, which restricts entry for nationals from several countries, including Iran. However, the ban contains a specific exemption for participants in major sporting events. The proclamation states that “any athlete or member of an athletic team… traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event” is permitted to travel to the U.S.
The upcoming draw at the Kennedy Center will determine the groups and fixtures for the expanded 48-team tournament. Iran, known as Team Melli, qualified for their fourth consecutive World Cup last March after a 2-2 draw with Uzbekistan.
The situation adds a diplomatic dimension to the sporting event, recalling past World Cup encounters where Iran faced the United States on the pitch in both the 1998 and 2022 tournaments.