Iran’s football federation said Tuesday the United States has withdrawn its ticket allocation for World Cup group-stage matches, accusing the co-host of preventing Iranian fans from attending amid escalating diplomatic tensions.
The federation said the decision is part of what it described as a series of administrative obstacles imposed by U.S. authorities, including visa refusals for members of its support staff.
Relations between the two countries remain strained following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February.
“With less than three days remaining until the start of the 2026 World Cup, the United States has once again acted to obstruct the presence of Iranian supporters at the stadiums hosting the national team’s three group-stage matches,” the federation said.
Iran’s football body said FIFA regulations guarantee that each participating federation receives 8% of tickets for its matches, distributed through official channels to supporters.
