By Daily Sports Nigeria on December 4, 2025
A delegation from Iran will attend the 2026 World Cup draw in the US on Friday after threatening to boycott it over a visa row.
Iran applied for nine visas but were issued four, with Mehdi Taj, president of Iran's football federation (FFIRI), among those rejected.
Taj said this week that he spoke with Fifa president Gianni Infantino and that no-one from Iran would attend the draw "unless all visas are issued".
However, Iran coach Amir Ghalenoi and Omid Jamali, head of international relations at the FFIRI, have travelled to the US and could be joined by more delegates.
The draw will take place in Washington DC on Friday at 17:00 GMT.
Iran have qualified for their seventh World Cup and fourth in succession.
The US, which is co-hosting the tournament with Canada and Mexico, has long-standing strict visa restrictions on Iranians for political and security reasons.
In June US President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning nationals from 12 countries from entering the US, citing an effort to manage security threats.
Iran is among the countries affected by the ban, although the executive order is supposed to exempt athletes and coaching staff travelling for the World Cup and 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Source BBC Sports
Posted December 4, 2025
You may also like...
Lagos SWAN congratulates Obasa, others, seeks for smoother...
Bayern eye double for Pep’s farewell
NPFL: Rangers dismantle Bayelsa, Mbaoma inspires Remo triumph...
Mozambique Get Revenge Over Malawi
Liverpool Can Stay On Top Without Major Signings,...
Man Utd make improved £60m bid for striker...

Celebrating Kanu Nwankwo: A True Nigerian Football Legend
Okowa hails Amusan, Enekwechi after Glasgow medals
Portable loses celebrity boxing rematch to Okocha after ring walkout
Commonwealth Games: Australia widens lead as Nigeria stays fifth on medal table
Commonwealth Games: Nigeria ranks ninth on all-time medals table
Ex-Milan legend Baresi dies at 66
Morocco edge Algeria to book WAFCON quarter-final spot
Asian football confederation joins UEFA, CONCACAF in opposing FIFA investment plan
Okocha, Portable set for chaos in the ring clash today
Malawi loss wake-up call – Madugu
We’ll come back against Zambia – Okoronkwo
Six Okpekpe athletes earn N8m windfall
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,995 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (55,346 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (53,246 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,846 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,727 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,598 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,491 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (52,002 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (51,220 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,686 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (48,171 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,555 views)