US policy sidelines Iranian football officials
US President Donald Trump's political decisions have caused serious problems for FIFA officials. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
Firstly, his firm stance against excluding Israel from football competitions and personal disagreements with Iran have emerged as issues. According to the information service of the Iranian Football Federation, due to changes in US visa policy, seven Iranian officials who were supposed to participate in the draw ceremony for the final stage of the 2026 World Cup have been denied entry visas to the US.
Among them are the president of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, and the national team head coach, Amir Ghalenoei. Experts believe that players and coaching staff should not face difficulties obtaining visas for the World Cup, but officials, journalists, and fans continue to encounter problems entering the US.
For this reason, the Iranian federation hopes to hold matches in Canada and Mexico. Political and visa-related restrictions in the US are creating significant obstacles to fostering interest in football through new trips.
The problems in football-related political relations between FIFA and the US are expected to directly affect the global development of world football. This situation may negatively impact future competitions and international cooperation on the football field.
Therefore, maintaining a balance between political decisions and cooperation in the sports sector is of great importance.
