Iran’s ticket allocation for the FIFA World Cup has been withdrawn just days before the start of the tournament, the country’s football federation (FFIRI) revealed on Tuesday. FIFA’s late move is set to leave many supporters outside the stadiums despite having already made travel arrangements for the 2026 edition of the tournament, which will be held across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
“This is despite the fact that many Iranian football fans, relying on the officially announced process, had already made the necessary plans to attend the matches,” the FFIRI said in a statement.
The latest dispute adds to a growing list of issues involving Iran ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The development comes after months of uncertainty surrounding Iran’s participation in a World Cup that has already been overshadowed by visa disputes and political tensions between Tehran and Washington.
The ticketing row is the latest blow for Iranian football supporters, many of whom have already been dealing with uncertainty over travel arrangements and entry requirements for the United States.
DONALD TRUMP’S THREAT TO IRAN
The origin of the issue can be traced to a Donald Trump statement on March 12, months before the tournament. At the height of tensions between the United States and Iran, Trump openly questioned whether the Iran national team should be allowed to participate in the competition.
“The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup, but I don’t really believe it is appropriate that they be here, for their own life and safety. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump wrote.
Despite the concerns raised by Iran, FIFA refused to entertain requests to move the team’s matches outside the United States.
It does not take a genius to figure out that the visa drama struck the Iran football team as well. The players were awarded visas only 10 days before their first match of the tournament, essentially robbing them of crucial time to acclimatise and prepare.
However, several members of the Iranian contingent were not granted visas, including “key managerial and administrative members”, according to Iran’s football federation, which accused the US of breaching its host obligations and violating FIFA regulations.
Iranian ambassador Ali Pasandideh said 15 of the 70 members of the delegation that arrived in Tijuana had not been granted visas to enter the United States.
FIFA did not respond to requests for comment regarding the dispute.
The latest ticket-allocation controversy has only deepened concerns among Iranian supporters. With the tournament just days away, many fans who expected to watch their team from the stands are now facing uncertainty despite following the official process laid out by football authorities.
Neither FIFA nor tournament organisers immediately provided a detailed explanation regarding the reported withdrawal of Iran’s ticket allocation.
With tensions continuing to simmer off the pitch, Iran’s World Cup campaign is already being shaped by issues that have little to do with football itself.
– Ends
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