Iran’s football federation has accused organizers of withdrawing its allocation of tickets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup just days before the tournament begins, leaving supporters who had already made travel arrangements uncertain about attending their team’s matches in the United States.
The federation said the move prevented it from providing any tickets to Iranian fans despite having already started the sales process through official channels.
The dispute adds to a series of challenges surrounding Iran’s participation in the tournament amid ongoing tensions between Tehran and Washington.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) said participating federations are entitled to receive 8 percent of tickets for each match for distribution among their supporters.
According to the federation, it had already begun allocating tickets for Iran’s Group G matches against New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt after receiving its quota.
The FFIRI said the allocation was later withdrawn, making it impossible to provide tickets to supporters who had relied on the official process and, in some cases, already made travel plans.
The federation described the decision as contrary to the principles of equality and fairness in international sport.
It also said the development raised concerns about the influence of political considerations on the organization of the tournament.
The FFIRI called on FIFA and tournament organizers to uphold neutrality and ensure Iranian supporters can attend matches.
Neither FIFA nor U.S. organizers had publicly commented on the ticket allegation.
The ticket dispute follows earlier concerns regarding visas for members of Iran’s World Cup delegation.
Iranian officials have said several administrative and support staff members were unable to obtain U.S. visas, although players received the documents required to participate in the tournament.
A U.S. official previously told Reuters that the necessary visas had been issued for Iran to compete.
Amid the uncertainty, Iran moved its World Cup training base from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico.
The national team arrived in Mexico ahead of the tournament, and FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom said the governing body would continue working with the FFIRI to ensure a positive experience for the team and delegation.
Iran opens its World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, followed by a match against Belgium on June 21 and a final group-stage fixture against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.