Iran’s football federation says it lost its allocation of World Cup tickets just days before the tournament begins, leaving supporters who had already arranged travel unable to secure seats for the team’s matches.
The Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) announced the issue on Tuesday. Iran will open its Group G campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15 before facing Belgium on June 21. The team will then play Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
According to FFIRI, the federation had already started distributing tickets through its official process before the allocation disappeared.
“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,” the federation said.
The governing body argued that removing access to its allocated tickets went against the principles of equal treatment for participating nations.
“Depriving Iranian supporters of access to their lawful and official allocation of tickets is an action contrary to the spirit governing international competitions and the principle of equality among participating countries,” the statement added.
Each participating federation normally receives eight per cent of tickets for its matches and distributes them to supporters under its own criteria.
FFIRI did not identify who withdrew the allocation. However, it urged FIFA to follow “the principles of neutrality, fairness, and established regulations” and prevent political issues from affecting the tournament.
The dispute arrives after months of uncertainty around Iran’s World Cup preparations. The federation moved its base camp from Arizona to Mexico amid concerns over visa approvals and regional tensions following military strikes involving the United States and Israel.
The United States granted visas to Iran’s players last week, although several staff members reportedly did not receive entry clearance. FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom said on Tuesday that he held a positive meeting with FFIRI president Mehdi Taj and pledged continued cooperation during the tournament.
