A group of Iranian football officials was refused entry into Canada ahead of the upcoming FIFA conference, with Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand suggesting that the denial may have been inadvertent. Iranian media reported that Iranian Football Federation president Mehdi Taj and his delegation were turned away upon their arrival at Toronto’s Pearson Airport on Tuesday night, risking strained relations between Iran and Canada just six weeks before the World Cup amidst heightened global tensions between the United States and Iran.
Taj, a former commander in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which has been designated as a terrorist organization by Canada since 2024, expressed disappointment over the incident, leading the entire delegation to return home, labeling it as an insult. Reports from Iran International indicated that Taj had been granted a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) for attending the conference in Vancouver.
Responding to inquiries about the entry denial, Anand deferred to Immigration Minister Lena Diab, stating that the issue fell under her jurisdiction. The Iranian delegation was en route to the 76th FIFA congress in Vancouver, a gathering of 211 national soccer federation members of FIFA, serving as a precursor to the 2026 men’s World Cup jointly hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel Garner questioned why Taj was issued a TRP, emphasizing the need for accountability in light of Taj’s official status within the Iranian regime. Diab’s office, in an email response, highlighted that visa applications are evaluated on a case-by-case basis by trained officials, emphasizing the inadmissibility of IRGC officials to Canada.
The denial of entry explains Iran’s absence from the recent meeting of the Asian Football Confederation, where the country participated as a member, preceding the FIFA congress. Despite geopolitical tensions, Iran, one of the 48 qualified nations for the World Cup, is scheduled to compete in two matches in Inglewood, Calif., and one in Seattle during the group stage of the tournament. FIFA president Gianni Infantino previously confirmed Iran’s participation in the U.S., with Iranian authorities preparing for the national team’s World Cup matches in the country.