Iran Files $850 Million Lawsuit Against FIFA Over 2026 World Cup Discrimination

Iran's national football team, despite not advancing to the last 32 in the 2026 World Cup, has become a focal point of controversy due to alleged discrimination and logistical challenges during the tournament. An Iranian-American citizen, Lotfollah Kaveh Afresiyabi, filed a federal lawsuit against FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino, in Boston, seeking 850 million euros in damages on behalf of approximately 91 million Iranians. The suit claims Iran was unfairly treated, particularly highlighting the disallowed last-minute goal by Shoja Khalilzadeh against Egypt, which was ruled offside after VAR review and allegedly prevented Iran from progressing to the knockout stage.

The lawsuit also details external difficulties faced by the Iranian team, including U.S. sanctions that restricted travel, sudden changes to training facilities, and visa denials for 11 delegation members. These factors reportedly disrupted the team's preparation and performance. Iran finished the group stage undefeated with three draws, but the disallowed goal is cited as the critical factor in their elimination.

Iran's coach, Amir Ghalenoei, expressed frustration over the unique challenges his team faced, stating, "We dealt with challenges no other team in the World Cup had to endure." Due to U.S. restrictions, the team trained in Tijuana, Mexico, and crossed the border to play in Los Angeles. FIFA and Infantino have yet to respond publicly to the allegations. The lawsuit accuses FIFA's conduct of causing significant emotional harm to millions of Iranian fans and demands unprecedented compensation.

This legal action marks a rare and significant challenge to FIFA's governance and raises questions about political and logistical fairness in international sports competitions.