Iran says ticket allocation for World Cup withdrawn just days before tournament starts

Somali referee Omar Artan has been denied entry into the US

|

GB NEWS

Lewis Henderson

By Lewis Henderson


Published: 09/06/2026

- 09:25

Updated: 09/06/2026

- 10:04

Iran's national team have already had their training base relocated from the US to Mexico

Iran has claimed its ticket allocation for the World Cup has been withdrawn just days before the tournament gets underway.

Iran's football federation (FFIRI) said their tickets have been pulled, leaving supporters in jeopardy over their travel plans.


The FFIRI said: "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."

Iran are due to kick off their World Cup campaign against New Zealand on June 16 in Los Angeles.

They will then face Belgium on June 21 before concluding their group stage matches against Egypt.

Iran's World Cup squad was granted visas to enter the United States on June 6, just 10 days before their tournament opener.

However, several senior staff members remain without permission to enter the country.

According to Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency, those still awaiting visas include Executive Director Mehdi Kharati, football federation secretary general Hedayat Mombini, and Media Director Mohsen Motamedkia.

Iranian national team

The Iranian ticket allocation has been pulled

|
REUTERS

Staff lacking entry permits will accompany the squad to Mexico while attempts to secure their documentation continue.

Iran's football federation has sharply criticised the visa refusals, describing Washington's actions as politically motivated.

"The US Government, continuing its hostile actions against the national team, made a non-sporting and completely political decision to refuse visas for key managerial and administrative members of the Iranian national football team," the federation stated, according to Iranian state media.

The governing body argued that the American stance "contradicts international sports laws" and confirmed it would escalate the dispute to Fifa.

Iran's football teamIran's football team will be based in Mexico for the World Cup | GETTY

Iran had originally planned to set up its camp in Tucson, Arizona.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum revealed the US had requested that Mexico host Iran.

Sheinbaum said: "The United States does not want the Iranian national team to stay overnight in the United States.

Iran national teamThe US asked Mexico to host the Iranian national team | GETTY

"They asked us because they are going to play all three matches there. So they asked us: 'Can they stay overnight in Mexico?'

"And we said: 'Yes, no problem.' We have absolutely no problem with that."

Fifa confirmed Iran's training base will be at Centro Xoloitzcuintle in Tijuana, Mexico.