Iran's World Cup ticket allocation withdrawn days before tournament begins

Iran’s Football Federation (FFIRI) has had its entire World Cup ticket allocation withdrawn just days before the tournament begins, stranding supporters who had already committed to travel plans to attend their team’s matches.

The federation confirmed the development in an official statement on Tuesday, saying the move came despite fans having followed the officially announced ticketing process in good faith. “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 FFIRI said.

The federation did not specify which authority withdrew the allocation or provide a formal reason for the decision. The timing leaves affected supporters with little recourse, having already arranged travel and accommodation ahead of football’s global showpiece.

The FFIRI’s statement stops short of naming a responsible party, but the public framing — emphasising that fans acted in accordance with official guidance — suggests the federation is distancing itself from the decision and appealing on behalf of its supporters.