Iranian FIFA delegation forced to
Photo: Vahid Salemi/AP/TT

Iranian FIFA delegation forced to leave Canada after visas revoked

Iran's delegation to the FIFA Congress in Vancouver has left Canada after its visas were revoked. Iran's football chairman Mehdi Taj is said to have been a member of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which Canada designated as a terrorist organization in 2024.

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On Wednesday, it was announced that people with connections to the IRGC are not allowed to enter Canada. Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand stated that the visa had been revoked, but referred other questions to Immigration Minister Lena Diab.

“While we cannot comment on individuals due to confidentiality laws, the government has been clear and consistent: IRGC officials are not allowed to enter Canada and have no place in our country,” Diab’s press office said in a statement.

Iranian media reported that Mehdi Taj and two others in the delegation left Canada after being “insulted” by immigration officers at the Toronto airport.

FIFA is holding its congress in Vancouver on Thursday evening, local time in Sweden.

It is unclear whether Iran will be able to participate in this summer's World Cup in North America. The national team will play its group stage matches against New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt in the United States.

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AuthorTT News AgencyEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for our readers
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