A group of Iranian soccer federation officials were denied entry into Canada this week at Toronto’s airport, preventing them from attending an important FIFA meeting in Vancouver ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
The delegation included Iran’s football federation president Mehdi Taj, secretary general Hedayat Mombeni, and deputy secretary general Hamed Momeni. According to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, the officials possessed valid visas but chose to return to Turkey after what they described as inappropriate treatment by Canadian border authorities.
The Iranian soccer federation released a statement explaining their decision to leave: “While Mehdi Taj, president, Hedayat Mombeni, secretary general, and Hamed Momeni, deputy secretary general of the federation, had travelled to Toronto with official visas to attend the FIFA Congress, they returned to Turkey on the first available flight due to the unacceptable behaviour of immigration officials at the airport and the insult to one of the most honourable organs of the Iranian nation’s armed forces.”
The controversy centers around Taj’s previous role as a member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which Canada classified as a terrorist organization in June 2024.
Canadian officials defended their immigration policies in response to the incident. “While we cannot comment on individual cases due to privacy laws, the government has been clear and consistent: IRGC officials are inadmissible to Canada and have no place in our country,” the Canadian government stated. “We have taken strong action to hold the IRGC to account and will continue to do so, while protecting the safety of Canadians and upholding the integrity of our immigration system.”
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree reinforced that Revolutionary Guard members were not welcome in Canada, though he could not discuss specific cases due to privacy laws.
The Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights criticized Canada’s initial decision to grant Taj special permission to enter the country. “This case should have been straightforward. The decision to grant him entry at all was profoundly troubling. It undermines Canada’s designation of the IRGC as a terrorist entity and contradicts our country’s commitment to combatting impunity for serious human rights abuses in Iran,” the organization stated.
This Tuesday incident highlights growing concerns about Iran’s ability to participate fully in the upcoming World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The tournament represents the most politically sensitive issue FIFA faces, particularly given ongoing tensions involving Iran.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated last week that while Iranian players would be permitted to compete in the World Cup, individuals with Revolutionary Guard connections would not be allowed to accompany them.
The Iranian delegation was traveling to attend Thursday’s FIFA Congress in Vancouver, an annual gathering that brings together representatives from all 211 member associations. This year’s meeting carries additional significance with the expanded 48-team World Cup scheduled to begin in less than two months.
FIFA has since reached out to the Iranian delegation to express disappointment over the situation and indicated that President Gianni Infantino would arrange a meeting at FIFA headquarters, according to Tasnim’s reporting. A FIFA Congress source told Reuters that the organization sent a representative to Toronto to help resolve the situation, but those efforts were unsuccessful.
The incident also prevented Iranian officials from participating in Tuesday’s Asian Football Confederation Congress, which took place in Vancouver.
One AFC Congress delegate, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the topic, expressed concerns about future travel: “If it’s like this in Canada where it’s supposed to be easy, how is it going to be for the World Cup in the U.S.?”
Palestinian Football Association President Jibril Rajoub told Reuters that visa complications have overshadowed the FIFA Congress. “No one knows whether they will issue visas for this or that,” he said. “Building a wall between politics and this world (of sport) is a benefit for everybody, including the three countries who are hosting the World Cup. Let us at least present something united to the world.”
Iranian officials in Tehran have been seeking assurances for their national team’s participation in the World Cup and have explored the possibility of moving their matches scheduled for the United States to alternative locations due to security and travel concerns.
FIFA has maintained its position against any schedule changes, emphasizing that all participating teams must follow the established match calendar.
The controversy raises broader questions about how geopolitical tensions will affect the tournament, particularly regarding the free movement of players, officials, and supporters across the three host nations during the competition.
