Italy’s repechage to World Cup, new accusations from'Iran against Trump

The Iranian soccer federation has accused the United States of revoking the ticket quota reserved for the national team’s fans for the group stage matches of the 2026 World Cup, further fueling diplomatic tensions between the two countries. According to Tehran, the decision would be a further obstacle to the participation of Iranian supporters in the competition also organized on U.S. soil.

In an official note, the federation denounced what it calls a series of bureaucratic impediments placed by the United States against the Iranian delegation ahead of the tournament. These would include the failure to issue visas to some staff members, amid particularly strained relations between the two countries.

According to the Iranian federation, FIFA regulations require that participating federations be allocated a quota of 8 percent of the available tickets for each match for distribution to their fans through official channels. Tehran claims to have already started selling coupons for the group challenges against New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt, all of which are scheduled in the United States, allowing supporters to make travel and accommodation arrangements. Subsequently, however, the fee would be withdrawn, effectively preventing the federation from guaranteeing stadium access to its fans.

In the statement, the decision is described as “contrary to the spirit of international competitions” and the principle of equal treatment among participating nations. The federation therefore asked FIFA and the tournament organizers to ensure compliance with the principles of neutrality and fairness set out in the regulations. At the moment, no official statement has come from either FIFA or the U.S. organizing committee.