A group of Iranian football officials has been refused entry to Canada before the FIFA conference this week, with Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand hinting that the denial may have been accidental. Iranian media reported that Iranian Football Federation president Mehdi Taj and his team were turned away upon arrival at Toronto’s Pearson Airport on Tuesday night. The incident could strain relations between Iran and Canada just six weeks before the World Cup, amid ongoing tensions following the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran.
Taj, a former commander in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), listed as a terrorist entity by Canada since 2024, expressed disappointment over the incident, with the entire delegation returning home. Iranian International, the first to report the incident, cited sources within the Canadian government claiming that Taj had been granted a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) for the Vancouver conference.
Responding to inquiries about the entry denial, Anand deferred to Immigration Minister Lena Diab. Anand remarked that there was a revocation of permission, which was unintentional, leaving further details to the minister. The Iranian delegation was en route to the 76th FIFA congress in Vancouver, a precursor to the 2026 men’s World Cup co-hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel Garner questioned why Taj was issued a TRP, emphasizing concerns over how an Iranian regime official managed to board a plane. Diab’s office emphasized that all visa applications are individually reviewed by trained officials, reiterating that IRGC officials are inadmissible to Canada.
The denial of entry explains Iran’s absence from the Asian Football Confederation meeting in Vancouver on Tuesday, preceding the upcoming congress. Iran, one of the 48 countries qualified for the World Cup, is scheduled to play two matches in Inglewood, California, and one in Seattle during the group stage, despite tensions between Iran and the U.S. FIFA president Gianni Infantino previously assured Iran’s participation in the U.S., with Iranian government sources confirming preparations for the national team’s World Cup fixtures in the U.S.