By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
An Iranian delegation will attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw after initially saying they would boycott the ceremony in Washington.
Iran applied for nine visas but were issued four, with Mehdi Taj, president of Iran’s football federation (FFIRI), among those rejected.
Taj said, this week that he spoke with Fifa president Gianni Infantino and that no-one from Iran would attend the draw “unless all visas are issued”.
However, Iran coach Amir Ghalenoi and Omid Jamali, head of international relations at the FFIRI, have travelled to the US and could be joined by more delegates.
The draw will take place in Washington DC on Friday at 17:00 GMT.
Iran have qualified for their seventh World Cup and fourth in succession.
The US, which is co-hosting the tournament with Canada and Mexico, has long-standing strict visa restrictions on Iranians for political and security reasons.
Iran will play in their fourth straight World Cup finals when the tournament takes place in the United States, Canada and Mexico starting June 11.