—- The United States has denied the Iranian delegation’s entry into the country to attend the draw on December 5 for the 2026 World Cup, according to the Iranian federation’s spokesman Amir-Mehdi Alawi

The scheduled party would include federation president Mehdi Taj, national-team coach Amir Ghalenoei, and seven other officials.

The World Cup draw is scheduled on December 5 in Washington, D.C. at the Kennedy Center.

Iran’s federation says it will ask FIFA president Gianni Infantino to intervene and try to overturn the decision before the ceremony.

There were already wider concerns this year about the U.S. immigration and visa hurdles for Iranians imposed by President Donald Trump, and speculation that the participation of Iran’s players would be jeopardised in next year’s World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

This is not the first case involving Iranian sports delegations and US visas. Last week, reports in Iran said the men’s polo team could not obtain visas to compete at a world event in the United States.

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