Iran claims the US revoked World Cup ticket allocations for its supporters

On Tuesday, the Iranian Football Federation announced that the United States had withdrawn the country’s allocation of tickets for its 2026 World Cup group‑stage matches, alleging that the co‑host nation was preventing Iranian fans from attending the games amid a broader diplomatic dispute.

The United States has imposed several bureaucratic obstacles on Iran’s participation in the tournament, including denying visas to some members of the Iranian support staff. The two countries remain in a state of conflict following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran in late February.

“With less than three days remaining until the start of the 2026 World Cup… the United States has once again acted to obstruct the presence of Iranian supporters at the stadiums hosting the national team’s three group stage matches,” the federation said in a statement.

The federation noted that FIFA regulations allocate eight percent of tickets for each match to the participating national federation, which then distributes them to supporters through official channels. Iran had begun selling tickets for its group‑stage games against New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt— all to be played in the United States—after receiving its quota, and some fans had already made travel arrangements.

“However, in an unexpected move, the allocation granted to the Iranian Football Federation has been withdrawn, and under the current circumstances, the federation is unable to provide even a single ticket to supporters of the national team,” the statement added.

The federation described the action as “contrary to the spirit governing international competitions and the principle of equality among participating countries.” It called on FIFA and the tournament organisers to “uphold the principles of neutrality, fairness, and established regulations, and to provide the necessary conditions for Iranian supporters.”

Neither FIFA nor U.S. organisers have responded publicly to the accusation.

The complaint follows earlier disputes over Iran’s World Cup participation, including visa problems that the Iranian delegation says have prevented about 15 administrative and management staff members from entering the United States.

Rising tensions also prompted Iran to relocate its World Cup training base from Tucson, Arizona, to the Mexican border city of Tijuana, as originally planned.

Iran will open its campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, face Belgium in the same city on June 21, and play Egypt in Seattle on June 26.

AFP

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