Iran’s football federation says its official allocation of supporter tickets for the World Cup group stage has been revoked just days before the tournament begins.
The World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, kicks off on Thursday. Iran are due to face New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21, both in Los Angeles, before meeting Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
The Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) said FIFA regulations entitle every participating federation to 8% of tickets for each of their matches, allowing them to distribute seats to their supporters.
The federation said it had already begun selling tickets but is now unable to provide them to fans, including some who have already made travel arrangements.
“Depriving Iranian supporters of access to their lawful and official allocation of tickets is an action contrary to the spirit of governing international competitions and the principle of equality among participating countries,” the FFIRI said in a statement.
The federation added that the decision “raises serious questions about the interference of non-sporting and political considerations” in the organisation of football’s biggest tournament.
FFIRI has called on FIFA to “uphold the principles of neutrality, fairness, and established regulations”.
Iran’s World Cup participation has already been surrounded by uncertainty amid the ongoing war in the Middle East and related security concerns.
On May 25, Iran moved their training base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana in Mexico, claiming the United States was unwilling to host the team. Under their visa conditions, Iran must fly in and out of the US on matchdays for all three group fixtures.
On June 6, the federation accused the US of denying visas to “integral” members of the national team’s backroom staff, with 15 administrative officials refused entry.
FFIRI had previously submitted a list of 10 conditions to FIFA for Iran’s participation, including permission for players, coaches and officials who had completed military service with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to enter.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio has said Iran’s players will be welcome at the tournament, but individuals with links to the IRGC could face entry restrictions.
Iran were also the only country absent from FIFA’s annual congress in Vancouver in April after a delegation of FFIRI officials, including president Mehdi Taj, were turned away at the Canadian border.
