DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran national team coach attends international conference. 2026 World Cup draw Iranian media reported on Thursday that the event was held in Washington despite a prior announcement by the country’s soccer federation to boycott the event.
of This was announced by the Iranian Football Federation. Last week, the United States announced it would deny visas to members of the delegation and skip Friday’s lottery as a result.
However, federation spokesman Amir Mahdi Alavi told YJC.ir, a news agency affiliated with Iranian state television, that Iranian coach Amir Ghalenoei will attend the tournament along with one or two staff members to ensure Iran’s seat remains empty.
Alavi said Galenoei’s presence was purely technical and did not withdraw the federation’s protest.
Announced by US President Donald Trump’s administration in June. Travel ban for citizens of 12 countries Including Iran. The list also included Haiti, which qualified for the World Cup.
However, exemptions were promised for “any athlete or member of a sports team, including coaches, persons in necessary support roles, and immediate family members, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the Secretary of State.”
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