Media: Iran accuses US of blocking fans ahead of World Cup

Iran’s football federation announced on June 9 that its allocation of World Cup tickets for supporters of the national team had been revoked, days before the start of the tournament.

The federation accused the United States of preventing Iranian fans from attending the stadiums set to host Iran’s three group-stage matches, Iran International reports.

"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," it said in a statement.

The latest development underscores longstanding geopolitical frictions affecting Iran's involvement in the tournament. The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, marks the first time the event features 48 teams across 16 cities and three nations, with 104 matches total running from June 11 to July 19.

Iran qualified for the expanded competition but faced significant logistical and diplomatic hurdles due to bilateral tensions with the US host, including visa delays for players and staff, leading the team to base itself in Mexico rather than the United States.

FIFA has affirmed Iran's right to participate and play its group-stage matches on US soil, while navigating security concerns amid broader regional conflicts.

By Jeyhun Aghazada