US denies Iranian delegation entry ahead of World Cup draw

Tensions flared in global football on Wednesday after the United States reportedly denied entry visas to a delegation from the Iranian Football Federation (FFI), preventing them from attending the World Cup draw.

According to FFI spokesperson Amir-Mehdi Alawi, those affected included the federation’s president, Mehdi Taj, Head Coach Amir Ghalenoei, and seven other top officials. The group was scheduled to travel to the U.S. for the highly anticipated draw but was barred from entry.

The spokesperson hopes that Infantino will lift the ban within the next two weeks.

The World Cup draw will take place on Dec. 5 in Washington.

There were already fears that the entry ban imposed on Iranians by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The ban could jeopardise the participation of the already qualified Iran national team in 2026 World Cup in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

According to sports experts, the team and the coaching staff themselves will probably have no problems in this regard, but some FFI officials, sports reporters and, in particular, the fans will.

The FFI therefore hopes that Iran’s matches will at least be held in Canada or Mexico and not in the US.

Iran and the U.S. have not had diplomatic relations for over 45 years and are considered political arch-enemies.

However, almost two million Iranians live in the U.S., whose family members have always been able to visit them in spite of political differences and difficult visa procedures.

But even these family reunions are now blocked by the current entry ban.

(dpa/NAN)