Iran’s national soccer team is about to play its World Cup opener against New Zealand at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on June 15. One day earlier, President Donald Trump announced a peace deal with Iran, potentially ending a three-and-a-half month military conflict. The formal signing is set for June 19 in Switzerland.

Sanctions, tickets, and the financial squeeze on Team Melli

US sanctions enforced by OFAC, the Treasury Department’s sanctions arm, have strangled Iran’s soccer federation financially for years. The consequences became visceral when FIFA revoked Iran’s ticket allocation just days before the tournament kicked off. Iranian fans who wanted to watch their team play in person couldn’t buy tickets…