The head of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, stipulated that his country obtain guarantees from FIFA before participating in the 2026 World Cup in the United States, to prevent any abuses related to the Revolutionary Guard.
This position came after a diplomatic crisis with Canada, following the cancellation of Taj’s visa while he was on his way to attend the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, which was interpreted in Tehran as politicized behavior that might affect the team’s participation in the tournament.
Taj confirmed that the delegation faced “inappropriate treatment” by the immigration authorities, which prompted him to take the decision to return, considering that the delegation’s dignity was a priority.
On the other hand, the Canadian authorities revealed a different story, as the Minister of Immigration explained that the visa of the President of the Iranian Federation was actually canceled during the flight, due to alleged links to the Revolutionary Guard, which prevented him from entering Canadian territory. (Russia Today)
