FIFA denies tickets to Iran football fans just days ahead of World Cup

Iran's ticket allocation for the FIFA World Cup has been withdrawn just days before the start of the tournament, the country's football federation (FFIRI) revealed on Tuesday. FIFA's late move is set to leave many supporters outside the stadiums despite having already made travel arrangements for the 2026 edition of the tournament, which will be held across the United States, Mexico and Canada.

"This is despite the fact that many Iranian football fans, relying on the officially announced process, had already made the necessary plans to attend the matches," the FFIRI said in a



statement.

The latest dispute adds to a growing list of issues involving Iran ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The development comes after months of uncertainty surrounding Iran's participation in a World Cup that has already been overshadowed by visa disputes and political tensions between Tehran and Washington.

The ticketing row is the latest blow for Iranian football supporters, many of whom have already been dealing with uncertainty over travel arrangements and entry requirements for the United States.