Overview
- Iranian federation president Mehdi Taj and two senior officials were stopped at Toronto Pearson Airport and placed on a return flight, so they did not attend FIFA’s meetings in Vancouver.
- Canadian officials, citing privacy laws, declined to discuss the case but restated that Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officials are inadmissible to Canada.
- Iranian state media said the trio left because of “inappropriate” treatment by border staff and reported that FIFA expressed regret and offered a follow-up meeting at its headquarters.
- Iran International and other outlets reported Taj had a Temporary Resident Permit, a special waiver that can override inadmissibility, which raised questions from Canadian lawmakers about how he boarded and why permission was later revoked.
- The dispute sharpens focus on World Cup logistics, as Canada listed the IRGC as a terrorist group in 2024, U.S. authorities have signaled they may bar IRGC-linked delegates even as players can travel, and FIFA says Iran is expected to play as scheduled.