Ticket struggles hit Iraqi fans ahead of World Cup

Passionate Iraqi fans flood the stands, capturing every moment.

BAGHDAD, April 6: Iraqi fans in North America are facing a ticketing crisis as their national team prepares for its historic return to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Instagram account “Iraqi Football Photo Exhibition” shared details of an official petition urging the Iraqi Football Association to intervene with FIFA, amid fears many supporters may miss matches due to limited ticket availability.

Fans cite the early closure of FIFA’s fourth sales phase and the extremely limited ticket allocation, which fails to meet the size of the Iraqi diaspora. They are calling for activation of the fan code for Participating Member Associations (PMAs) to ensure a fair share of seats, especially as resale prices continue to soar.

Iraq opens its Group I campaign against Norway on June 17 at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, followed by a match against France on June 23 at Lincoln Financial Field in Pennsylvania. The group stage concludes against Senegal on June 26 at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada.

The “Lions of Mesopotamia” have qualified for the World Cup for only the second time in history after a dramatic playoff win over Bolivia (2-1) in Monterrey, Mexico.