Rabat – Iran’s football federation has accused the United States of blocking Iranian fans from attending the national team’s group-stage matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The federation said its official ticket allocation for the tournament had been withdrawn just days before Iran’s opening match.
The decision, according to the Iranian side, leaves many supporters unable to attend games they had already planned to watch in the US.
Under FIFA’s ticketing system, each participating federation usually receives a share of tickets for its matches.
Iran said this share is around 8% of stadium capacity and is meant to be distributed to fans through official channels.
The Iranian federation said it had already begun preparations for matches against New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt before being informed that the allocation had been removed.
“This decision has deprived Iranian supporters of the chance to obtain tickets through the official process,” the federation said, adding that many fans had already made travel plans.
The issue adds another political layer to Iran’s World Cup campaign. The team is playing all three of its group matches in the US, but its base has been moved to Tijuana, Mexico, because of travel and visa problems.
Iran’s players and essential staff were granted visas to enter the US for matches, but several officials are still waiting for approval.
Iranian diplomats have also said the team will only be allowed to enter the US on match days before returning to Mexico after the final whistle.
Iran are in Group G with Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand. They will open their tournament against New Zealand on June 15, before facing Belgium and Egypt later in the group stage.
So far, FIFA and the US organizing authorities have not issued a public response to Iran’s accusation. That silence has made the situation more sensitive, especially with the tournament only days away.
The case could now raise questions inside FIFA about neutrality, equal treatment, and the responsibility of host countries during global tournaments.
World Cup organizers are expected to guarantee access for teams, officials, and fans, but the Iran case shows how political tension can still affect football.
