Iran Fans Lose World Cup Ticket Allocation for U.S. Matches as FIFA Row Deepens

• Iran’s football federation says FIFA has revoked its ticket allocation for all three of the country’s World Cup group games in the United States.
• The decision leaves Iranian supporters facing fresh uncertainty just days before the tournament begins.
• The dispute adds to growing tensions involving visas, travel restrictions and Iran’s preparations for the World Cup.

Iran’s football federation has claimed FIFA has revoked the country’s ticket allocation for its three World Cup group-stage matches in the United States, dealing a significant blow to supporters hoping to follow the team at this summer’s tournament.

Each of the 48 participating nations is entitled to receive and distribute around eight percent of stadium capacity for its matches, providing thousands of tickets for loyal travelling supporters. However, the Iranian federation said on Tuesday that it was no longer able to provide tickets to fans ahead of games against New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt.

The development comes less than a week before Iran begin their World Cup campaign against New Zealand at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on June 15.

FIFA was approached for comment regarding the federation’s claims.

The issue is the latest complication affecting Iran’s involvement in a World Cup jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Iran’s preparations have already been disrupted by political tensions and travel restrictions, forcing the team to relocate its training base from Tucson, Arizona, to the Mexican border city of Tijuana.

Several Iranian football officials have also reportedly been denied entry visas to the United States, creating further uncertainty around the team’s tournament operations.

Traditionally, national federations distribute their ticket allocations to supporters who regularly attend international matches both home and away. It remains unclear how many tickets from Iran’s allocation had already been sold following December’s World Cup draw.

The situation is particularly sensitive given longstanding travel restrictions affecting Iranian citizens. Many supporters based in Iran were already expected to face difficulties obtaining entry to the United States, although members of the Iranian diaspora were anticipated to make up a significant portion of the team’s support during the tournament.

The latest dispute also revives comments made by FIFA president Gianni Infantino before North America was awarded hosting rights for the 2026 World Cup.

Speaking in 2017, Infantino stressed that all qualified nations, along with their supporters and officials, should be able to attend FIFA competitions.

“It’s obvious when it comes to FIFA competitions as well that any team, including the supporters and the officials of that team, who would qualify for a World Cup need to have access to the country, otherwise there is no World Cup,” Infantino said at the time.

Iran face New Zealand in Inglewood on June 15 before returning to the same venue to play Belgium six days later. Their final Group Stage fixture takes place against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.

The ticket controversy follows another World Cup-related access issue after a FIFA-appointed referee from Somalia was reportedly denied entry to the United States and subsequently removed from the tournament’s officiating list ahead of Thursday’s opening match.

With the World Cup now only days away, Iran’s preparations continue to be overshadowed by off-field uncertainty as players and supporters await further clarity over access and participation.

WRITTEN BY

Hailey

Hailey Russell is a football journalist and former Division 1 collegiate athlete in the United States, bringing a unique blend of elite playing experience and professional insight to her work. Currently competing at the professional level in Europe, Hailey combines first-hand knowledge of the modern game with sharp analysis across match reports, player development, and tactical breakdowns.

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