Iran blames US for country’s World Cup tickets being revoked
Iran’s national soccer federation says the United States revoked Iran’s allocation/making available of World Cup tickets for Iranian supporters just days before the 2026 tournament begins.The federation claims Iranian fans had already made plans under the official ticket-sale process and argues the move violates the principles behind international competition, including equality among participating countries.
It notes that participating countries typically receive 8% of tickets for each match, but Iran’s quota was allegedly removed by the U.S.; it’s unclear whether FIFA was involved, and FIFA was contacted for comment.
the dispute is occurring amid ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions. Iran’s team is staying in Mexico because the U.S. wouldn’t host them, and the players are required to leave U.S. territory the same day as their matches. The players were initially set to remain in Tucson, Arizona, but are now based in Tijuana.
During visa issues, Iran says 26 players received visas for group matches, while some staff members did not due to security concerns, including alleged ties of staff such as team chief Mehdi Taj to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iran’s group matches are scheduled in Los Angeles (vs. New Zealand and Belgium) and Seattle (vs. Egypt).
Iran blamed the United States after its allocation of World Cup tickets for Iranian soccer fans was revoked days before the start of the international tournament.
The Islamic regime’s national soccer team made the claim on Tuesday, two days before the World Cup begins and six days before its first match in California.
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“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 Iranian soccer federation said after it had already begun the ticket sales process.
“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 organization added. “Depriving Iranian supporters of access to their lawful and official allocation of tickets is an action contrary to the spirit governing international competitions and the principle of equality among participating countries.”
Normally, each participating World Cup country is allocated 8% of the tickets for every match in which its team is playing. But Iran’s quota was allegedly scrapped altogether by the United States. It remains unclear whether FIFA was involved in the decision.
The Washington Examiner contacted FIFA for comment on Iran’s claim.
The move comes amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran, as a tenuous ceasefire has not yet resulted in a permanent peace between the two countries. Iranian officials have bemoaned the treatment of their soccer team by the U.S. during wartime.
The Iranian players are staying in Mexico after the U.S. refused to host them. Additionally, they are required to leave American soil on the same day of their matches in the U.S.
The team was originally supposed to stay in Tucson, Arizona, for the tournament. Its members are now based just south of the U.S. border in Tijuana, Mexico.
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The 26 players on the Iranian team were granted visas to the U.S. for their group matches, but the same wasn’t done for several staff members due to security concerns. The U.S. has said some staff members, including Iranian football chief Mehdi Taj, are linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
After the World Cup starts Thursday, Iran will play New Zealand in Los Angeles on Monday, Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21, and Egypt in Seattle on June 26 for its three group matches. Iran has no scheduled matches in Mexico or Canada, the other two North American countries hosting the World Cup.
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