Iran’s handling of fan tickets for the 2026 World Cup is under scrutiny. The federation revoked the allocation of spectator seats weeks before the tournament started, after FIFA’s rule that each national association receives 8 % of match tickets.
Teams will play New Zealand in Los Angeles on 15 June, Belgium on 21 June, and Egypt in Seattle on 26 June. Iran’s federation says it had already started selling the seats, but now has to cancel the sale due to undisclosed political concerns. Many fans have already booked flights and hotels, leaving them stranded.
"Depriving Iranian supporters of access to their lawful and official allocation of tickets is an action contrary to the spirit of governing international competitions and the principle of equality among participating countries," the federation’s statement read. It calls on FIFA to uphold neutrality, fairness and the established regulations.
Earlier in May, Iran moved its training base from Tucson, Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, citing US disinclination to host the team. Later, US officials denied visas to 15 Iranian staff members with ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iran was also barred from participating in FIFA’s annual congress in Vancouver, as its delegation was turned away at the Canadian border.
In short, the ticket revocation points to a wider trend of political factors intruding into sporting events, echoing concerns over governance, equal treatment and the right to rally with sport.
