The United States has denied entry to a high-ranking Iranian delegation scheduled to attend the FIFA World Cup draw in Washington, according to officials of the Iranian Football Federation (FFI).
FFI spokesperson Amir-Mehdi Alawi told Iranian daily Shargh that the delegation included Federation President Mehdi Taj, Head Coach Amir Ghalenoei, and seven other officials.
The decision has sparked diplomatic tension ahead of the December 5 draw. The FFI has now appealed to FIFA President Gianni Infantino to intervene and lift the restriction within the next two weeks.
The travel ban comes amid lingering U.S.-Iran hostilities, rooted in decades of severed diplomatic ties.
While Iran has already qualified for the 2026 World Cup, concerns are growing over the participation of its delegation, fans, and some media representatives if the entry ban remains in place.
Sports analysts, however, believe that players and coaching staff are unlikely to face obstacles.
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The greater worry lies with FFI officials and Iranian supporters, many of whom had hoped to travel for the tournament.
In light of the situation, Iranian officials have called for their team’s fixtures to be scheduled in Canada or Mexico rather than the United States.
The U.S. travel restrictions, first imposed under President Donald Trump, have already complicated family reunions for nearly two million Iranians living in the country.
Iran and the U.S., political rivals for more than 45 years, have long clashed in sporting and diplomatic arenas.
The current ban raises fresh questions about how politics could affect the staging of the 2026 World Cup, jointly hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.