Iran Alleges FIFA Cancelled World Cup Tickets Allocated to Its Fans Ahead of Tournament

Tehran: Iran's Football Federation has claimed that FIFA has cancelled tickets allocated to Iranian supporters for the group-stage matches of the upcoming FIFA World Cup, just days before the tournament is set to begin.

The World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is scheduled to kick off on Thursday.

In a statement, the Iranian federation said FIFA regulations entitle each participating national federation to receive eight percent of the total ticket allocation for its matches for distribution among its supporters. According to the federation, it had already begun selling the tickets to fans when it was informed that the allocation had been cancelled.

The federation said the sudden decision had left many supporters who had already made travel and accommodation arrangements unable to obtain match tickets.

"Denying Iranian fans access to their rightful official ticket allocation is contrary to the principles of transparency in international sporting events and the principle of equality among participating nations," the federation said.

It further alleged that the decision reflected the influence of political considerations in the administration of the world's biggest sporting event and called on FIFA to uphold neutrality, fairness, and equal treatment for all participating countries.

Iran's participation in the tournament has been clouded by uncertainty amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and security concerns surrounding travel to North America.

On May 25, Iran relocated its pre-World Cup training camp from Arizona in the United States to the Mexican city of Tijuana, alleging that American authorities had shown reluctance in accommodating the team's preparations.

Under the current visa arrangements, Iranian players are reportedly permitted to enter the United States by air only on match days for their group-stage fixtures and are required to leave immediately after each game.

Iran had also alleged on June 6 that the United States denied visas to 15 key members of the national team's management staff.

The federation has submitted a list of demands to FIFA, including a request that players and officials who completed mandatory military service with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) be allowed to participate in the tournament without restrictions. However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that individuals with links to the IRGC would remain subject to entry restrictions.

Earlier this year, a delegation led by Mehdi Taj was reportedly turned back at the Canadian border while attempting to attend FIFA's annual congress in Vancouver. As a result, Iran became the only participating nation unable to attend the gathering.

Iran is scheduled to begin its World Cup campaign against the New Zealand national football team in Los Angeles on June 15.