FIFA denied tickets to Iranian soccer fans just days before the World Cup
The Football Federation of Iran (FFIRI) announced on Tuesday that it has canceled the allocation of tickets for the FIFA World Cup just days before the start of the tournament. FIFA’s late move will keep many fans out of stadiums despite having already secured travel arrangements for the 2026 edition, which will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
“This is despite the fact that many Iranian football fans, relying on the officially announced process, have already made the necessary plans to attend matches,” FFIRI said in a statement.
The latest dispute adds to a growing list of issues surrounding Iran ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The development comes after months of uncertainty surrounding Iran’s participation in the World Cup, which has already been overshadowed by visa disputes and political tensions between Tehran and Washington.
The ticket dispute is the latest blow to Iranian soccer fans, many of whom have already faced uncertainty about travel arrangements and entry requirements for the United States.
DONALD TRUMP’S THREAT TO IRAN
The origin of the problem can be traced back to a statement by Donald Trump on March 12, months before the tournament. At a time of heightened tensions between the United States and Iran, Trump has openly questioned whether Iran’s national team should be allowed to compete.
“Iran’s national football team is welcome at the FIFA World Cup, but I really don’t think it’s appropriate for them to be here for their own lives and safety. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump wrote.
Despite concerns from Iran, FIFA refused to grant requests to move the team’s matches outside the United States.
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the visa drama has also affected the Iranian soccer team. The players only got their visas 10 days before the first match of the tournament, essentially robbing them of crucial time for acclimatization and preparation.
However, some members of the Iranian contingent were not granted visas, including “key management and administrative members”, according to the Iran Football Federation, which accused the US of breaching its hosting obligations and breaching FIFA regulations.
Iranian Ambassador Ali Pasandideh said 15 of the 70 members of the delegation that arrived in Tijuana were not granted visas to enter the United States.
FIFA did not respond to requests for comment on the dispute.
The latest ticket allocation controversy has only fueled fears among Iran’s supporters. With the tournament just days away, many fans who expected to watch their team from the stands now face uncertainty despite following the official process set by football authorities.
Neither FIFA nor the tournament organizers immediately provided a detailed explanation for the reported withdrawal of Iran’s ticket allocation.
As tensions continue to simmer off the pitch, Iran’s World Cup campaign is already being shaped by issues that have little to do with football itself.
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Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
09 Jun 2026 14:08 IST