Iran stripped of World Cup fan ticket allocation days before tournament

Iran's allocation of supporter tickets for the group stage of the FIFA World Cup has been revoked just days before the tournament begins, according to the country's football federation.

The World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, kicks off on Thursday.

Iran are scheduled to face New Zealand on 15 June and Belgium on 21 June, with both matches taking place in Los Angeles, before meeting Egypt in Seattle on 26 June.

The Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) said FIFA regulations entitle each participating federation to receive 8% of the tickets for its matches to distribute among supporters.

According to the federation, ticket sales had already begun before the allocation was withdrawn, leaving some fans unable to secure tickets despite having already made travel arrangements.

"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 FFIRI said in a statement. "This development raises serious questions about the interference of non-sporting and political considerations in the organisation of the world's biggest football event."

The federation called on FIFA to "uphold the principles of neutrality, fairness, and established regulations".

Iran's participation in the tournament has been overshadowed by uncertainty linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and related security concerns.

On 25 May, Iran relocated its training base from Tucson, Arizona, to the Mexican city of Tijuana, claiming US authorities were unwilling to host the team. Under the terms of their visas, the squad will be required to fly into and out of the United States on matchdays for each of their three group-stage fixtures.

Less than two weeks later, on 6 June, the federation accused the United States of denying visas to 15 administrative officials described as "integral" members of the national team's support staff.

The FFIRI had previously submitted a list of 10 conditions to FIFA regarding its participation in the tournament. Among them was a request that players, coaches and officials who had completed military service with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) be allowed to enter the United States.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said Iran's players would be welcomed at the World Cup, but individuals with links to the IRGC could face entry restrictions.

Iran were also the only nation absent from FIFA's annual congress in Vancouver in April after a delegation of FFIRI officials, including federation president Mehdi Taj, were reportedly denied entry into Canada.