Iranian Delegation Denied Entry Into US Ahead of FIFA World Cup Draw

Iranian Delegation Denied Entry Into US Ahead of FIFA World Cup Draw

Tensions escalated in international football on Wednesday following reports that the United States refused to grant entry visas to a delegation from the Iranian Football Federation (FFI), barring them from participating in the World Cup draw.

According to FFI spokesperson Amir-Mehdi Alawi, the individuals impacted were Mehdi Taj, the federation’s president; Head Coach Amir Ghalenoei; and seven other senior officials. The group was planned to travel to the U.S. for a much-anticipated draw but faced entry restrictions instead.

The spokesperson is hopeful that Infantino will rescind the ban in the coming two weeks.

The draw for the World Cup is scheduled to occur on December 5 in Washington.

There were already concerns regarding the entry ban on Iranians implemented by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The prohibition could risk the involvement of Iran’s national team, which has already qualified for the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Sports experts believe that while the team and coaching staff are unlikely to encounter problems in this regard, some FFI officials, sports reporters, and especially the fans might face challenges.

As a result, the FFI hopes that Iran’s matches will be hosted in either Canada or Mexico instead of the US.

For more than 45 years, Iran and the U.S. have lacked diplomatic relations and are regarded as political adversaries.

Nevertheless, nearly two million Iranians reside in the U.S., and their family members have consistently been able to visit them despite political differences and challenging visa procedures.

However, these family reunions are also currently obstructed by the existing entry ban.