Iran’s soccer federation announced the loss of its ticket allocation for the 2026 World Cup shortly before the tournament begins. This affects hundreds of fans who had planned to attend matches. Under FIFA regulations, each participating federation receives 8% of the team’s match tickets to sell or distribute to fans.
The Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran described the ticket loss as an unexpected setback. It stated that the federation cannot provide tickets to its national team’s supporters, despite having already sold some through its website. The federation blamed the United States, a host of the tournament alongside Mexico and Canada, for obstructing Iranian fans’ attendance.
Iranian authorities called on FIFA to uphold neutrality and fairness, urging them to enable Iranian fans to attend the event. Typically, World Cup tickets are sold through lotteries, but federations often distribute them to the most dedicated fans. Neither FIFA nor the U.S. Soccer Federation commented on the situation.
Iran’s World Cup participation was uncertain after airstrikes by the United States and Israel hit the country in February. Visas for Iran’s players were issued last week but many support staff members were denied. Paolo Zampolli, an American special envoy, cited homeland protection as the reason for entry restrictions.
Initially, Iran’s team planned to base in Tucson, Arizona, but moved to Tijuana, Mexico, near the U.S. border for the tournament. Mehdi Taj, president of the Iranian soccer federation, mentioned the relocation aimed to reduce time spent in the United States. Iran will play three matches on the West Coast, starting against New Zealand in Los Angeles, followed by Belgium and Egypt in Los Angeles and Seattle, respectively.
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