World Cup 2026: Iran accuse US of revoking fan ticket allocation days before tournament

Iran's Football Federation (FFIRI) has accused the United States of revoking its allocation of tickets for supporters ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, describing the move as politically motivated.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the FFIRI said it had been informed that it could no longer distribute its official allocation of tickets for Iran's three group-stage matches, despite many fans already making travel plans.

The federation said FIFA regulations guarantee each participating nation eight percent of tickets for its matches to allocate to supporters. It argued that denying Iranian fans access to those tickets goes against the principles of fairness and equal treatment.

The FFIRI has called on FIFA to intervene, urging world football's governing body to uphold its regulations and ensure neutrality in the organisation of the tournament.

The latest dispute adds to Iran's difficult build-up to the World Cup. The team recently relocated its training camp from Arizona to Tijuana in Mexico, and will travel into the United States only for matchdays. Iran has also complained that several members of its backroom staff were denied US visas.

Iran begin their Group F campaign against New Zealand on June 15 before facing Belgium and Egypt in their remaining group-stage matches. FIFA has yet to comment on the latest allegations.