Two Iranian delegations could have attended the FIFA congress but chose not to, a source said

The FIFA congress opened on Thursday without Iran, with the delegation’s absence underscoring the geopolitical tensions and logistical fault lines hanging over the upcoming World Cup.

Iranian Football Federation officials, including President Mehdi Taj, were due to attend the meeting but returned to Toronto airport after what Tehran described as “unacceptable behavior” by Canadian immigration authorities despite traveling with valid visas.

This was stated by a source with direct knowledge of the matter Reuters two members of the delegation could have attended the FIFA Congress, but chose not to do so after one of their delegation members was denied entry into Canada.

READ | A Canadian official has backed the report that Iranian football chiefs were denied entry to the FIFA event

No seats have been opened for Iran at the Vancouver Convention Centre Reuters reporter witnessed, as 210 of the 211 member associations were present.

Canadian officials said decisions on entry were made on a case-by-case basis and reiterated that individuals associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which Ottawa labels a terrorist organization, are inadmissible.

Taj is a former member of the IRGC.

The incident leaves one of the most politically sensitive delegations absent from FIFA’s annual meeting, depriving the congress of direct representation of a country whose presence at the 2026 World Cup is already shaping behind-the-scenes discussions.

The issue is particularly acute given the cross-border nature of the tournament.

The expanded 48-team World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico, will require teams, officials and support staff to move repeatedly between jurisdictions, raising the prospect that visa restrictions or diplomatic friction could complicate planning for some countries.

Iran has already qualified for the tournament, but participation is fraught: Tehran is asking for alternative venues for matches on US soil.

FIFA rejected the request and emphasized that the schedule will remain in place.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week that Washington has no objection to Iranian players participating in the World Cup, but added that the players should not bring people with ties to the IRGC.

Published on April 30, 2026