On June 8, 2026, the Trump administration rejected Iran's allegations that the U.S. had manipulated ticket allocations for the FIFA World Cup. An administration official stated that ticket distribution is managed by FIFA and the event organizers, not the U.S. government.

Despite this, Iran's football federation claimed its allotment of supporter tickets for three group-stage matches in the U.S. had been pulled less than a week before kickoff. FIFA, which holds sole authority over ticketing, is investigating the situation.

Most of Iran's 26-man squad has not had a competitive game since February due to the war, and U.S. authorities awarded visas to all of Iran's players about 10 days before the opener. The controversy highlights the complex interplay between international sports, diplomacy, and national security concerns.