Iran’s football federation says its allocation of fan tickets for the World Cup group stage has been revoked just days before the tournament begins, leaving supporters without access to tickets they were told were available. The governing body said it had already started selling the tickets and that some fans had already made travel plans based on that allocation.
The World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, is set to start on Thursday. Iran are scheduled to play New Zealand on 15 June and Belgium on 21 June, with both matches taking place in Los Angeles. They will then face Egypt in Seattle on 26 June. The federation said the ticket issue affects supporters planning to attend those fixtures.
According to Iran’s football federation, FIFA regulations provide each participating federation with 8% of the tickets for each of its matches to distribute to fans. The federation said that entitlement has now been withdrawn, although it did not say who made the decision or give a detailed explanation for the change.
In a statement, the FFIRI described the move as unfair to Iranian supporters and said it went against the spirit of international competition and the principle of equal treatment among participating nations. It argued that depriving fans of their lawful and official ticket allocation created serious concerns about whether non-sporting and political factors were influencing the organisation of the tournament.
The federation called on FIFA to protect neutrality, fairness and the established rules governing the event. It said the situation had already caused disruption for fans who were expecting to attend the matches and who may now be left unable to see Iran’s group-stage games in person.
The dispute comes at a sensitive moment, with the expanded World Cup about to begin across North America. For Iran, the issue adds off-field uncertainty to the team’s preparations as it gets ready for three group matches in two different U.S. cities. The federation’s complaint focuses on access for ordinary supporters, but it also reflects broader tensions over fairness, administration and the role of politics in major international sport.
Iran’s football body is pressing FIFA to restore what it says is the country’s rightful ticket allocation and to ensure that all participating nations are treated according to the same rules. The federation has framed the matter as one of transparency and equality, insisting that fan access should not be affected by external pressures.
