Iranian Federation Denounces Withdrawal of Tickets from Its Fans Before World Cup Kickoff

The Iranian Football Federation announced that the allocation of tickets for Iranian fans for the national team's matches in the 2026 World Cup was unexpectedly withdrawn just a few days before the tournament's start, meaning that Iranian fans will not be able to obtain tickets through the usual official channels.

According to the federation's statement, some fans had already completed their travel and accommodation arrangements based on this quota.

The Iranian federation pointed out that FIFA regulations grant each participating team a percentage of tickets for their matches to distribute among their fans, emphasizing that Iran had already begun the process of selling tickets for the group stage matches before their allocated share was canceled.

The Iranian federation described the move as "discriminatory" and contrary to the principle of sports neutrality, considering that the decision deprives Iranian fans of supporting their team during its matches in the United States. At the same time, it called on FIFA to intervene and ensure that all teams and their fans are treated equally.

The new crisis follows a series of tensions related to Iran's participation in the World Cup, as several officials from the Iranian delegation faced issues obtaining visas to enter the United States. Additionally, the team had to move its main training camp from the United States to Mexico before the tournament.