Iran's Football Federation has announced the revocation of its authority to issue tickets for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, impacting hundreds of fans who had already made arrangements to attend matches.
Under FIFA regulations, participating federations are allocated 8 percent of tickets for their team's matches, which are then distributed to supporters. The Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran described the loss of this ticketing privilege as an "unexpected move," stating it is "currently unable to provide even a single ticket to supporters of the national team," despite having already sold some tickets via its website.
While the federation did not explicitly name the entity responsible for the revocation, it pointed blame towards the United States, one of the tournament's co-hosts. The Iranian federation released a statement expressing regret over "a series of decisions and actions by the host country that fall outside the usual norms of sport," alleging that the United States has again obstructed Iranian supporters' attendance.
The federation has formally requested FIFA to "uphold the principles of neutrality, fairness and established regulations" to enable Iranian fans to attend the event. Traditionally, tickets distributed through federations are often prioritized for a team's most dedicated supporters.
This incident follows earlier uncertainties regarding Iran's participation in the World Cup, including visa issues for team members and support staff. Although visas were eventually granted to the players, applications for over a dozen support staff members were reportedly rejected. The Iranian team has also relocated its base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico, citing a desire to minimize time spent in the United States.
