Canada turned back three senior Iranian football officials at the border this week, including a man described as a former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander, as the row over Iran’s participation in the World Cup sharpened into a diplomatic incident on FIFA’s doorstep.
Mehdi Taj, president of the Iranian Football Federation, secretary general Hedayat Mombeini and deputy secretary general Hamed Momeni had obtained visas and flown to Toronto to attend the FIFA Congress in Vancouver when Canadian authorities revoked their entry permits.
The Iranian federation said officials at the airport had insulted “one of the most distinguished institutions of Iran’s armed forces.” The three men flew back to Turkey on the first available flight.
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand confirmed the entry permits had been revoked before the delegation arrived.
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree declined to comment on the specific case, citing privacy law, but said individuals with links to terrorist organisations had no place in Canada. Canada designated the IRGC as a terrorist organisation in June 2024.
Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner said Taj’s reported past as an IRGC commander raised questions about how he had cleared Canada’s vetting process to reach the border at all. “The fact that he made it to our border is itself concerning,” she said.
The delegation’s route also drew scrutiny. Despite the FIFA Congress and the Asian Football Confederation executive committee meeting being held in Vancouver, the Iranians flew into Toronto — a city on Canada’s east coast more than 4,300 kilometres from their destination.
Earlier reports from Iran’s IRGC-linked Tasnim news agency said the officials had first travelled overland from Tehran to the Turkish city of Van before flying onward.
All of Iran’s group stage matches are scheduled to take place in the US, and Tehran authorities have asked FIFA to move them to alternative venues. FIFA has refused.
Tehran has also sought guarantees over travel and entry conditions for players and staff ahead of the tournament, co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico.
The FIFA Congress in Vancouver brings together representatives from more than 200 member associations to address operational and financial matters before the first 48-team World Cup.