Iranian soccer fans have had their ticket allocation for their country’s three 2026 World Cup games in the U.S. revoked by soccer’s global governing body FIFA, the Iranian national soccer federation claimed Tuesday.
Each federation for the 48 teams taking part is entitled to receive and distribute 8% of the stadium seats for the World Cup, adding up to several thousand tickets per game.
Just days before Iran is due to open its World Cup with a June 15 game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California against New Zealand, the Iranian federation claimed in a statement reported by state media that it was unable to provide any tickets to supporters.
FIFA did not immediately reply to a CBS News request for comment.
The report comes after weeks of turmoil between Iran’s national soccer federation, FIFA and the U.S., which is co-hosting the tournament along with Canada and Mexico.
Before the U.S. and Israel launched their joint war with Iran on Feb. 28, Iran’s team had planned to train in Tucson, Arizona, but theyre using the Mexican border city of Tijuana as a base instead.
Some officials with the Iranian soccer federation have been denied visas to enter the U.S. The Iranian team is also set to play Belgium in Inglewood on June 21 and then Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
The national federations of World Cup teams typically sell their allocated tickets to ardent fans who attend games at home and away.
Iranian nationals have been barred from entering the U.S. since last year, and they are unlikely to get entry visas to attend the World Cup.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said Iranian players will be welcomed at the tournament, but those with links to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps – which the U.S. has proscribed as a terrorist organization – could face restrictions when they try to enter the country.
