The twist: Iran will not
Photo: Jonas Ekströmer/TT

The twist: Iran will not boycott the World Cup draw

The Iranian Football Federation is making a complete turnaround. The country will not boycott the draw for the World Cup in Washington on December 5th.

Amir Ghalenoei, the head coach of Iran's men's national football team, will attend the World Cup draw as the team's technical representative along with one or two other people, a spokesman for the Iranian Football Federation told state television.

At the end of November, the federation announced that no one from the Iranian delegation would participate in the World Cup draw, as the United States had denied visas to several members.

Ahead of this summer's World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, US President Donald Trump has announced that it will be faster for World Cup visitors to obtain visas to the United States through a so-called "FIFA passport".

"We will do the same review as today, but the difference is that you are ahead of the line," said the country's Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier in November.

Iran, with Swedish-born Saman Ghoddos on the team, qualified for the World Cup back in March.

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AuthorTT News AgencyEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for our readers
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