Iran's World Cup Ticket Allocation Revoked Amid US Visa Restrictions

FIFA announced that the ticket allocation for Iranian supporters at Iran's three 2026 World Cup matches in the United States has been withdrawn. The Iranian football federation said it can no longer provide any tickets to its fans, alleging that the United States has taken steps to block Iranian supporters from attending the games. The revocation comes days before Iran's opening match on June 15 in Inglewood, California, and affects subsequent fixtures against Belgium on June 21 and Egypt on June 26.

The dispute highlights broader entry‑control issues: several Iranian federation officials have been denied U.S. visas, the team has relocated its training base to Tijuana, Mexico, and other World Cup participants have faced entry problems, including a Somali referee and an Iraqi player. FIFA says it is working with Iran's federation on "compliant solutions," but it cannot override U.S. immigration law. The situation raises questions about how political and security considerations intersect with the tournament's global ticketing model.