Iran’s football federation accused the United States of withdrawing ticket allocations for Iranian supporters at the 2026 World Cup. The move came just days before the tournament began.
The Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran, known as FFIRI, released a statement on Tuesday. Officials said the United States revoked the allocated tickets for Iran’s three group stage matches. They noted that the federation had already started selling seats to fans based on the original quota.
“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 FFIRI said.
Furthermore, the federation added that the allocation was withdrawn unexpectedly. “However, in an unexpected move, the allocation granted to the Iranian Football Federation has been withdrawn, and under the current circumstances, the federation is unable to provide even a single ticket to supporters of the national team,” it stated.
FFIRI officials pointed to FIFA regulations. They explained that federations receive about eight percent of tickets for each match. The federation argued that the revocation violated the spirit of international competitions and the principle of equality among participating countries.
Iran qualified for its seventh World Cup appearance after strong performances in Asian qualifiers. The team’s players and support staff arrived in Mexico on Sunday after securing US visas. Yet fans now face uncertainty over attendance.
The accusation emerged against a backdrop of ongoing diplomatic strains between Iran and the United States. Neither FIFA nor US organizers immediately commented on the claims. Supporters expressed disappointment as the tournament approached.
The development highlighted challenges for Iranian fans seeking to support their team in North America. FFIRI officials said they continued efforts to resolve the issue with FIFA.
