Iranian Officials to Miss FIFA Congress Due to Alleged Canadian Treatment

Delegation from Iran’s Football Federation Turns Back at Toronto Airport Due to Immigration Issues

A delegation from Iran’s football federation, led by President Mehdi Taj, returned to Turkey on Wednesday after arriving at Toronto’s Pearson airport. The group had traveled with valid visas to attend a FIFA Congress in Vancouver, but cited “unacceptable behavior” from Canadian immigration officials as the reason for their departure.

According to reports, the delegation held official visas and was expected to participate in the congress, which brings together representatives of all 211 member associations before the World Cup. However, they returned to Turkey after encountering difficulties with immigration officials.

The Iranian football federation stated that Taj, Secretary-General Hedayat Mombeni, and Deputy Secretary-General Hamed Momeni had traveled to Toronto despite being listed as a terrorist organization by Canada in 2024. The Canadian government has maintained that IRGC officials are not welcome in the country due to their alleged ties with the group.

The incident highlights the challenges Iran’s football federation faces in participating in the World Cup, which is co-hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico. FIFA has expressed regret over the situation and has offered to arrange a meeting between the Iranian delegation and President Gianni Infantino at the organization’s headquarters.

The FIFA Congress, scheduled for Thursday, will proceed as planned despite the incident. However, it remains unclear whether Iranian players, officials, and supporters will be able to move freely across borders during the tournament.

Source: Al Jazeera