Iran has decided not to participate in the draw ceremony for the 2026 World Cup due to the US's refusal to grant visas to several members of the delegation.

The Iranian Football Federation has announced that Iran will not participate in the draw ceremony for the 2026 World Cup, scheduled for December 5 in Washington. The decision was made after the United States refused to grant visas to several members of the Iranian delegation, including the president of the federation.

The federation's spokesperson emphasized that these decisions are not related to sports. Although four members of the delegation, including coach Amir Ghalenoei, received visas, the majority were denied. Relations between Iran and the United States have been tense for over four decades, and recent negotiations regarding the Iranian nuclear program are at an impasse, following the conflict between Iran and Israel.