The Iranian Football Federation (FFI) has publicly denounced that the US government has revoked the allocation of tickets intended for fans from their country for the group stage.
The Iranian Football Federation (FFI) has publicly denounced that the US government has revoked the allocation of tickets intended for fans in their country for the group stage matches of the 2026 World Cup. Faced with this situation, the Asian body has formally requested an urgent intervention from FIFA.
Details of the diplomatic and logistical conflict
The ticket restriction: Under FIFA regulations, each participating federation is entitled to 8% of the stadium capacity in its matches. The FFI had already started ticket sales on its web portal for the matches against New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt when the lockdown was imposed.
Headquarters affected: Iran’s engagements on U.S. soil are scheduled in cities such as Los Angeles and Seattle.
Political and migration reasons: This measure is linked to the travel restrictions imposed by the administration of Donald Trump, added to the military conflict that both countries have been holding since February 2026.
Impact on Iran Team: The national team has also suffered the consequences of not being able to freely enter US territory. Due to this, the Persian delegation had to move its base camp to Tijuana, Mexico. To meet the schedule, the squad will travel to the United States headquarters and return on the same day of each meet.
