Despite initially announcing a boycott over visa denials for its full delegation, Iran will now be represented at the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw by just two officials.

The Iranian Football Federation confirmed that head coach Amir Ghalenoi and international relations director Omid Jamali have traveled to the United States as the only members of the delegation.

Visa dispute sparked initial boycott

The decision comes after Iran initially threatened to skip the draw entirely because not all visas had been approved by the U.S. government. Of the nine delegation members originally expected to attend, only four received clearance. The federation first responded by planning a full boycott but ultimately agreed to send two representatives.

Trump administration stance

In June, President Donald Trump signed an executive order barring entry to citizens from 12 countries, including Iran, citing national security concerns.

Andrew Giuliani, a senior advisor to Trump and executive director of the 2026 World Cup Task Force, addressed the matter in a press briefing. “I know some members of the Iranian delegation were approved to participate in the draw. The president’s executive order lists Iran as one of the countries whose teams are exempt from coming here. I refer you to the State Department for the latest updates on Iran,” he said.

Despite the diplomatic hurdles, Iran will now have a minimal presence at the event in Washington, marking a last-minute reversal.

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