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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Via AP news wire

Iran decides to boycott World Cup draw, citing visa restrictions for soccer federation officials

Switzerland World Cup 2026 Playoff Draw Soccer - (Keystone)

Iran has decided to boycott the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington next week because the U.S. denied visas to several members of its delegation, the state-run IRNA news agency reported on Friday.

The agency quoted Iranian soccer federation spokesman Amir-Mahdi Alavi as saying that officials faced visa obstacles that go beyond sports considerations.

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