Why Has Iran Decided to Boycott 2026 World Cup Draw?

Global anticipation for the 2026 World Cup draw was enveloped in a diplomatic controversy as Iran's football federation announced its decision to boycott 2026 World Cup draw. The move, stemming from visa restrictions by the host nation, the United States, casts a political shadow over what should be a purely sporting event. Iran is qualified to take part in the FIFA World Cup 2026 and sees the denial of visas to key members of the country's delegation as an "unsportsmanlike" act, beyond the many routine bureaucratic hurdles.

The draw ceremony is scheduled to take place at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C., for the tournament co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

US Visa Denial: Immediate Cause for the Iran Boycott

The central reason for the Iran boycott 2026 World Cup draw is that the United States refused to issue visas to several members of the Iranian delegation. The Iranian delegation was expected to include high-ranking officials from the Iranian Football Federation, such as President Mehdi Taj. Iranian officials have made it clear that the decisions related to the visa issue are "purely political" and have "nothing to do with sports."

The U.S. has tight visa restrictions on Iranian nationals, and while the U.S. government had previously promised exemptions to athletes and officials to attend major sporting events such as the World Cup, the delegation that was supposed to attend the draw did not get full clearance. The Iranian federation appealed to FIFA to intervene and called on the world governing body to make sure the process remains “about sport” but ultimately decided to stay away after the issue remained unresolved.

Geopolitical Tensions Overshadow FIFA World Cup 2026

The controversy underscores the long-running geopolitical friction between the United States and Iran—tensions that often surface beyond politics and into the global spotlight. With Washington D.C. as the 2026 World Cup draw venue, the stage feels almost destined to reflect these broader struggles.

According to reports, the president, Mehdi Taj, was one of three individuals denied a visa by the U.S. State Department, while four people – including the head coach, Amir Ghalenoei – were granted one.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has repeatedly insisted that “everyone will be welcome” at the FIFA World Cup 2026, which kicks off in Mexico City on June 11. Speaking on the sidelines of a European Club Association assembly in October, he moved to ease concerns that visa issues could prevent athletes or officials from entering the United States. “We have excellent discussions with the U.S. government,” Infantino said at the time. “There is a White House task force chaired by President Trump, and all these topics are discussed there.”

The boycott also throws up uncomfortable questions for the co-hosts, who must now demonstrate how they will handle visas and entry for other teams and fans from countries with fraught ties to North America throughout the rest of the FIFA World Cup 2026.