With the FIFA World Cup 2026 set to kick off in just days, Iran’s Football Federation (FFIRI) has claimed that its official ticket allocation for the group stage has been revoked, alleging that the move has prevented its supporters from purchasing tickets through official channels.
The development comes against the backdrop of heightened political tensions between the United States and Iran, adding a fresh layer of controversy to the tournament being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
FFIRI claims fans can no longer buy tickets through official channels
In a statement, the FFIRI said that under FIFA regulations, eight per cent of the ticket capacity for each World Cup match is reserved for the participating federations, allowing their supporters to purchase tickets through official mechanisms coordinated by their respective football associations.
The Iranian federation said it had begun selling tickets for its group-stage matches against New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt through its official website after receiving the allocated quota.
However, it alleged that the allocation was later withdrawn, making it impossible for the federation to sell tickets to Iranian fans.
“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.
The federation further stated that denying Iranian supporters access to their official ticket allocation was “contrary to the spirit of governing international competitions and the principle of equality among participating countries.”
FFIRI questions political influence
The FFIRI argued that the situation raises broader concerns over the administration of international sporting events.
According to the federation, the decision “raises serious questions about the interference of non-sporting and political considerations in the organisation of the world’s biggest football event.”
At the time of the statement, the federation maintained that it was unable to sell even a single ticket through its official platform.
Iran’s World Cup schedule
Iran’s squad arrived in Tijuana, Mexico, early on Sunday to prepare for the tournament before travelling to the United States for its group-stage fixtures.
The team is scheduled to face New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, followed by Belgium at the same venue on June 21, before taking on Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
The controversy has emerged just days before the start of the World Cup, with Iran calling for equal treatment of all participating nations and their supporters.