Iran threatens to skip World Cup draw amid U.S. visa standoff

December 2, 2025 Oliver Obel

Iran’s presence at this week’s World Cup draw in Washington is increasingly uncertain. Several federation officials are still waiting for U.S. entry visas, and Iranian media say the delays may prompt the country to skip the ceremony entirely.

The draw is scheduled for December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. It usually brings together representatives from every qualified nation.

With the event only days away, Iran has no confirmation that its full delegation will be allowed to attend. Some observers had expected the situation to be resolved long before now, which has made the current standoff more surprising.

A long running travel hurdle resurfaces

Iran qualified for its seventh World Cup after finishing first in its AFC group. Even so, the team’s preparations have once again collided with U.S. travel restrictions that date back several years. Iran and Haiti remain among the countries affected by policies introduced during the Trump administration.

Several other nations in Africa and the Middle East have been subject to the same rules.

Athletes and essential sporting staff often receive exemptions, but administrators and federation officials usually face a more complicated process. U.S. officials have defended these restrictions as necessary for national security, a claim Iran has repeatedly rejected.

The issue has occasionally surfaced in previous sporting events involving Iranian participants.

Conflicting signals over who can enter

The Iranian Football Federation submitted nine names for visas. According to reporting from Khabar Online, the group was informed that only a small number would be approved.

The Tehran Times later reported that four officials were cleared. These included head coach Amir Ghalenoei, executive director Mehdi Kharati, international relations director Omid Jamali and spokesperson Amir Mehdi Alavi.

The reasoning behind the approvals and denials has not been made public. People familiar with the situation say the federation believed the entire group would be allowed to attend after FIFA president Gianni Infantino gave assurances earlier this year that all delegations would be welcomed at the ceremony.

The denial of federation president Mehdi Taj has become a central point of contention, and he has raised the matter directly with FIFA.

Boycott threat gains traction

Iranian officials have said that the delegation will travel only if all original applicants receive visas. Alavi told Iranian media that the federation has already informed FIFA of this position.

A full absence from a World Cup draw would be unusual. Officials with experience in international football say they cannot recall a recent example of such a boycott.

Hosts prepare for heavy travel demand

The United States will host most of the World Cup matches, including the final in New Jersey on July 19. Canada and Mexico will serve as co hosts. U.S. consular offices are preparing for a surge in travel requests from fans. Hundreds of additional staff have been assigned to handle the expected volume.

Fans who already have match tickets will receive priority appointment scheduling through a new system created by FIFA to speed up visa processing.

Even with these measures, officials emphasize that visas remain subject to standard interviews and review procedures. The situation facing Iran shows that approvals can still be unpredictable.

Sources: Khabar Online, Tehran Times, SPORTBIBLE