Iran has decided to participate in the draw for the 2026 World Cup, scheduled for Friday in Washington, after initially announcing a boycott due to the United States' refusal to grant visas to several members of its delegation.

Coach Amir Ghalenoei will represent the national team, along with one or two other people, according to the spokesperson of the Iranian Football Federation. On November 28, Iran announced that it would not participate in the ceremony, accusing a "political" decision from the USA, which has not had diplomatic relations with Iran for four decades. Although four members of the delegation, including Ghalenoei, received visas, the president of the Iranian federation, Mehdi Taj, was among those who were not accepted.

Iran has qualified for the final tournament and is in the second pot of the draw, which will take place at the Kennedy Center, in the presence of the American president.