Iran Reverses World Cup Boycott Decision, Will Attend Draw in Washington

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Iran has changed its stance on the World Cup draw ceremony in Washington, reversing its earlier decision to boycott the event. The Iranian Football Federation confirmed that a delegation, led by head coach Amir Ghalenoei, will participate in the ceremony as the technical representative of the national team. The U-turn comes after Iran initially cited visa issues as the reason for their boycott, with several members of the delegation, including federation president Mehdi Taj, facing difficulties in obtaining visas. However, after a recent visa grant to four members of the delegation, including Ghalenoei, Iran decided to participate in the draw. Iran qualified for the World Cup in March, marking their seventh appearance in the tournament. Despite not making it past the group stages in their previous appearances, the team has a notable history, including a 2-1 win over the United States in the 1998 World Cup in France. The decision to attend the draw comes as tensions between the United States and Iran continue to simmer. The two countries have been at odds for over four decades, and recent nuclear talks between the two sides were unsuccessful due to disagreements over Iran's right to enrich uranium. The 2026 World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with the draw ceremony set to take place in Washington. Iran's participation in the event is a significant development, given the complex relationship between the two countries.