FIFA issued a statement on Thursday night which said that the Iranian football federation had reversed its plans to boycott the FIFA World Cup draw, with the world football governing body saying the nation has sent a delegation to the United States to attend the event.
FIFA’s statement said the travelling party included head coach Ardeshir Ghalenoei. The Iranian federation had been claiming it would boycott the event because visas had not been issued by the U.S. government to all members of its delegation, including the federation’s President Mehdi Taj. FIFA’s statement did not specify which other members of the Iranian federation formed part of the eventual travelling party.
In a report published by AP earlier on Thursday, Andrew Giuliani, the director of the White House FIFA World Cup Task Force, said: “Part of the delegation got approved and part of the delegation did not get approved. Every single decision is a national security decision.”
Iranian nationals have been under a travel ban imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration since June. Within the executive order signed by Trump, exemptions are made for the World Cup itself for athletes, support staff and immediate relatives but it was not clear if the exemption applies to the draw.
Iran’s delegation includes head coach Ardeshir Ghalenoei, according to FIFA’s statement (Karim Jaafar / AFP via Getty Images)
A statement to The Athletic from the U.S. State Department earlier this week said: “We are doing everything we can to support a successful World Cup. At the same time, the Trump Administration will not waver in upholding American law and the highest standards of national security and public safety in the conduct of our visa process. We generally will not comment on Department actions with respect to specific cases.”
The department added that every application is adjudicated on the “facts of the case”.
The Tehran Times had last week claimed that four visas were issued by the U.S. for its delegation — Ghalenoei, Mehdi Kharati (executive director), Omid Jamali (director of international relations), and Amir Mehdi Alavi (spokesperson) — but that requests for three others, including President Mehdi Taj were reportedly denied. Jamali is also expected at the draw, according to reporting by the BBC.
Spokesperson Alavi therefore told the publication: “We have informed FIFA that the decisions taken are unrelated to sport and that the members of the Iranian delegation will not participate in the World Cup draw.”
According to the BBC, Taj, who demanded that FIFA President Gianni Infantino take a stand on their behalf, told Iranian television: “The current position of the Iran Football Federation executive committee is that no one will attend the event unless all visas are issued.”
Yet a week later, FIFA issued a statement late on Thursday night, which read: “FIFA has welcomed the arrival of the Islamic Republic of Iran Football Federation delegation to Washington, DC, including head coach Ardeshir Ghalenoei, to attend the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Draw and the team seminar. FIFA looks forward to continue to work with the Federation and the host country authorities to ensure preparations for their participation at the FIFA World Cup 2026 next summer.”
FIFA have been asked to clarify if this delegation includes Taj. The Iranian football federation has also been invited to comment.
Trump’s executive order in June described Iran as a “state sponsor of terrorism,” alleging that the state “regularly fails to cooperate with the United States Government in identifying security risks.”
It means travel for Iranian nationals seeking to support the team in the World Cup may be limited.
While exemptions are made for athletes, teams and immediate relatives, The Athletic has previously reported how further-reaching exemptions for supporters do not exist. There are some exemptions, such as for nationals of designated countries who are traveling on government business, NATO business or those who are lawful permanent residents of the United States. There are also exemptions for dual citizens and those traveling with a passport from the non-designated country. There will also be entry granted to Iranians who are on immigrant visas owing to ethnic or religious persecution in their home country.