A delegation of Iranian football officials abandoned their trip to Canada before the start of the FIFA Congress due to what Iranian media described as 'inappropriate behaviour' by immigration officers at Toronto's international airport.
The group, which includes the president, secretary general, and deputy secretary general of the Iranian football federation (FFIRI), reportedly boarded the first available flight back to Turkey on Wednesday, according to reports from Iranian news outlets.
Iranian media outlets claimed the officials departed following an 'insult to one of the most honourable organs of the Iranian Armed Forces' during immigration checks. The federation's president, Mehdi Taj, is a former member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Canada officially designated the IRGC a terrorist group in 2024, a move that prohibits its members from entering the country. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada stated it could not comment on specific cases for privacy reasons but confirmed that 'IRGC officials are inadmissible to Canada.'
Diplomatic friction at the FIFA Congress
The officials had arrived in Canada on 'official visas' intended for the FIFA Congress held in Vancouver. The gathering brings together representatives from member nations to discuss the upcoming World Cup, which Canada will co-host with the United States and Mexico.
According to reports, FIFA has attempted to mediate the dispute. The global football body reportedly contacted the Iranian delegation to express regret over the incident and indicated that president Gianni Infantino would arrange a meeting at FIFA headquarters.
A source at the FIFA Congress told Reuters that while a representative was sent to Toronto to mediate, the efforts failed to prevent the delegation's departure.
The incident adds new tension to an already volatile political landscape. The delegation's exit deepens uncertainty regarding the movement of Iranian players and supporters during the summer tournament, especially as the Middle East remains impacted by the war involving US and Israeli forces that began in February.
While FIFA maintains that all scheduled fixtures will proceed, the standoff at the border highlights the logistical hurdles facing Iranian participation in North American sporting events.
