The claim adds to the tensions between Iranian football, FIFA and tournament co-host the US, which began military attacks on Iran on February 28.<\/p>\n
FIFA has total authority over ticketing operations at the World Cup, yet the Iranian football body suggested \u201cthe United States has now taken steps to obstruct the presence of Iranian supporters at the stadiums”.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis incident raises serious questions about the influence of non-sporting and political considerations on the organisation of the world\u2019s biggest football event,\u201d the Iranian football federation said.<\/p>\n
FIFA said in a statement it is “working closely with the IR Iran Football Federation to identify compliant solutions that maximise opportunities for Iranian supporters to attend matches”.<\/p>\n
FIFA President Gianni Infantino and its CEO-like secretary general Mattias Grafstr\u00f6m each promised logistical support in face-to-face meetings with Iranian football officials in T\u00fcrkiye in recent weeks.<\/p>\n
![\"Iran's](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/iranfootball-KC62USAPUBADTIDJTT7GIZG4BM.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Iran’s Ehsan Hajisafi arrives with his teammates for the World Cup soccer tournament in Tijuana, Mexico, Sunday, June 7, 2026. (Source: Associated Press)<\/p>\n
Iran’s bumpy ride to World Cup<\/p>\n
Most of Iran’s 26-man squad has not had a competitive game since February because they play for clubs in the domestic league that was shut down by the war.<\/p>\n
They are now based in the Mexican border city of Tijuana instead of a pre-war plan to train in Tucson, Arizona. It is the team’s seventh appearance at a men’s World Cup.<\/p>\n
Some federation officials also have been denied visas to enter the US, where Iran also plays Belgium in Inglewood, a suburb of Los Angeles, on June 22 and then Egypt in Seattle on June 27 NZT.<\/p>\n
Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House FIFA task force, said that the Iranian team would be able to enter the US the day before their match and emphasised that Tijuana was a short flight to Los Angeles. <\/p>\n
He confirmed that some Iranian officials were \u201cnot coming in\u201d and while he declined to go into specifics, Giuliani added that \u201cas you can imagine, there are some people that claim that they are coaches that may not be coaches”.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe president has been clear on this one … that he wants to make sure that they have every opportunity to compete on a level playing field here, while also making sure that people that are directly working, let\u2019s say, with the IRGC have no ability to access the United States of America,\u201d Giuliani said, referring to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.<\/p>\n
Fans wanting to come to the US to follow the team were likely to face issues obtaining visas issues and making payments while financial sanctions are in force.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, in an unexpected move, the allocation granted to Iran\u2019s football federation has been withdrawn, and under the current circumstances the federation is unable to offer even a single ticket to national team supporters,\u201d the federation said.<\/p>\n
It was unclear how many tickets in Iran\u2019s allocation were sold, if they live in their home country or are part of its diaspora including about 1 million people in the US.<\/p>\n
If Iranian tickets are revoked, FIFA would have just days to sell about 5600 tickets for the Iran-New Zealand game on Tuesday, though Los Angeles has the largest Iranian community in the US. <\/p>\n
The FIFA sales site showed rows of field-level seats available at USD$450 (NZD$773) each though in the dozens rather than hundreds.<\/p>\n
Still, Infantino stated in 2017 \u2014 when US football officials were preparing a co-hosting bid with Canada and Mexico they won the following year \u2014 that fans must have access to the tournament.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s obvious when it comes to FIFA competitions as well (that) any team, including the supporters and the officials of that team, who would qualify for a World Cup need to have access to the country, otherwise there is no World Cup,\u201d Infantino said nine years ago. \u201cThat is obvious.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hostile welcomes<\/p>\n
US policy toward World Cup visitors is becoming a strong theme before the games begin this week.<\/p>\n