TEHRAN/ZURICH: Iran, for the fourth consecutive time, have qualified for the World Cup finals after a 2-2 against Uzbekistan. However their presence at the finals could mean a headache for FIFA because of a new United States barrier against Iranians.

World Cup hosts must guarantee entrance for the finals to players, officials and fans of any and every country whose national team qualifiers.

However Iran is among 41 countries whose citizens being rendered subject to partial or total bans on entering the US according to an executive order on January 20, which aims to increase screening of foreign nationals from countries considered a threat to national security.

Iran have never made it out of the group stages of a World Cup so in 2026 they may have to start in one of the groups in Canada or Mexico.

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