Iran accuses United States of blocking World Cup fans
Iran’s football federation has accused the United States of preventing Iranian supporters from attending group-stage matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The federation said its allocated ticket share was withdrawn shortly before the start of the tournament, limiting access for fans who had already prepared to travel.
The federation stated that it had been informed only days before Iran’s opening match that its official ticket allocation had been cancelled. Under FIFA’s distribution system, each participating team is usually assigned a portion of stadium tickets, often around a small percentage of capacity, to distribute through national federations.
Iran argued that this system had already been activated for matches against New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt before the sudden withdrawal. The federation said supporters had already begun travel arrangements and that the decision disrupted official planning channels for ticket distribution.
The controversy adds a political dimension to Iran’s participation in the tournament, which is being hosted in the United States. All of Iran’s group-stage matches are scheduled on US soil, while the team’s base has been relocated to Tijuana in Mexico due to travel and administrative constraints.
Iranian officials said players and essential staff received visas to enter the United States for match days, but several team representatives were still awaiting approval. They also said the team would be required to enter the country only on match days and return to Mexico after matches, limiting movement during the tournament period.
World football authorities have not issued a public response to the accusation. The lack of clarification has intensified scrutiny over tournament neutrality and access rules. Questions have also emerged about how host nations balance security policy with international sporting obligations.
Iran are drawn in Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand, with their first match scheduled against New Zealand on June 15. The situation now risks overshadowing preparations on the sporting side as diplomatic tensions intersect with tournament logistics.
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