The Football Federation of Iran has reconsidered its previous decision to boycott and will send a team to the World Cup draw, which will take place on Friday in Washington. Earlier, Iran announced a boycott after three members of the delegation, including the federation president Mehdi Taj, faced visa denials from the United States.
Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali reported that the visas necessary for participation have been obtained, including for head coach Amir Galenoei. According to local sources, he will travel to the U.S. accompanied by Omid Jamali, the head of the federation's international department.
Iran is among the 19 countries whose citizens face entry restrictions to the U.S. under Donald Trump's executive order. Although exceptions are provided for World Cup participants, the situation still raises concerns among fans from Iran and Haiti, who may also face visa issues.
FIFA has announced the FIFA Pass program, which will give ticket holders priority when applying for visas; however, successful visa acquisition is not guaranteed. Human rights organizations continue to express concerns about potential threats and risks of discrimination during the tournament amid the strict U.S. immigration policy.
