Iran’s Soccer Federation Says Its World Cup Tickets Have Been Revoked
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- Iran’s soccer federation has lost its ability to issue tickets for the 2026 World Cup just days before the tournament begins, impacting hundreds of Iranian fans who had planned to attend.
- FIFA regulations allocate 8 percent of tickets for each team’s matches to their respective federations, which then distribute or sell them to fans; Iran’s federation said losing this privilege was unexpected.
- The federation blamed the United States, one of the event hosts along with Mexico and Canada, for revoking their ticket distribution rights, accusing the U.S. of obstructing Iranian supporters’ attendance.
- Iran’s soccer federation called on FIFA to uphold neutrality and fairness, urging the organization to allow Iranian fans to attend the World Cup despite the ticketing issues.
- Tickets distributed through federations typically go to the most dedicated fans, making this loss particularly significant for Iran’s national team supporters.