(Adnkronos) – Tehran’s Football Federation has accused the United States of revoking, just days before the start of the World Cup, the quota of tickets allocated to Iranian national team fans for the group stage matches. In a statement, the Football Federation denounced what it called a further measure aimed at hindering the presence of Iranian supporters in the stadiums of the tournament co-organized by the USA.
“With less than three days until the start of the 2026 World Cup, the United States has once again acted to prevent the presence of Iranian fans in the stadiums for the national team’s three group stage matches,” the statement reads. According to Tehran, FIFA regulations stipulate the allocation to participating federations of 8% of tickets for each match, to be distributed among their respective fanbases through official channels.
The Iranian federation announced that it had already started selling tickets for the matches against New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt, all scheduled to take place in the United States, after receiving the allotted quota. Some fans had reportedly already organized their travel to attend the games.
“However, with an unexpected decision, the allocation granted to the Iranian Football Federation has been withdrawn and, under current circumstances, we are unable to provide even a single ticket to the national team’s supporters,” the note continues, which described the decision as “contrary to the spirit of international competitions and the principle of equality among participating countries.”
The federation also urged FIFA and the tournament organizers to ensure respect for the principles of neutrality and fairness, guaranteeing the necessary conditions for the participation of Iranian fans. Washington has already imposed several bureaucratic obstacles to Iran’s participation in the World Cup, including the failure to issue visas to some members of the delegation accompanying the national team.
