Iran Faces Visa Denials and Revoked Ticket Allocation for US World Cup Games

Iran's football federation said on Tuesday that US authorities had revoked its allocation of tickets for the group stage and denied visas to approximately 15 administrative and management staff. Iranian officials condemned the move as "deliberate and discriminatory treatment" ahead of a tournament where Iran are scheduled to play all three group matches on American soil.

The White House Task Force for the World Cup defended the decision, with envoy Andrew Giuliani stating that coaching staff would be admitted but that officials with links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps would not. Iran's players remain free to travel, but the loss of support personnel and fan ticket allocations adds a layer of complexity to a campaign already shaped by geopolitical tension following US-Israel military strikes in February.

Iran open their Group G campaign against New Zealand on Monday, 16 June, before facing Belgium and Egypt. The visa dispute is part of a broader pattern affecting World Cup participants — from referees to supporters — and has led anti-discrimination groups to question whether FIFA can deliver on its pledge of an inclusive tournament under current US immigration policies.