Iran’s football federation says the country has had its allocation of supporter tickets for the World Cup group stage revoked just days before the tournament begins.
The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, starts on Thursday, with Iran due to face New Zealand on 15 June and Belgium on 21 June in Los Angeles before meeting Egypt in Seattle on 26 June.
In a statement, the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) said FIFA rules entitle each participating nation to 8% of the tickets for its matches to distribute to supporters.
The federation claims it had already begun selling tickets before being informed it could no longer provide them to fans, some of whom have already booked flights and accommodation for the tournament.
“Depriving Iranian supporters of access to their lawful and official allocation of tickets is an action contrary to the spirit of governing international competitions and the principle of equality among participating countries,” the FFIRI said.
“This development raises serious questions about the interference of non-sporting and political considerations in the organisation of the world’s biggest football event.”
The FFIRI also urged FIFA to “uphold the principles of neutrality, fairness, and established regulations.”
Iran’s participation in the World Cup has already been overshadowed by logistical and political complications linked to ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
Last month, the team moved its training base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana in Mexico, saying the United States was unwilling to host them for the duration of the tournament.
Under the terms of their visas, Iran’s squad will reportedly have to fly into the United States on matchdays and leave again immediately afterwards for each of their three group fixtures.
The ticket dispute adds another layer of uncertainty to Iran’s preparations as the team gets ready to return to football’s biggest stage amid heightened political and security scrutiny.
