The Iran crisis looms over the FIFA Congress

Decision makers in world football will meet in Vancouver on Thursday, with the 76th FIFA Congress being held, in an anticipated meeting less than two months before the start of the largest edition of the World Cup ever, scheduled in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The Iran war, the logistical challenges of the World Cup, and the unresolved issue of Russia's continued international embargo are expected to top the agenda of discussions among about 1,600 delegates representing more than 200 member associations.

Iran's absence threatens to overshadow the meeting from now on.

Iranian Federation officials abruptly left Canada after arriving in Toronto earlier this week, foregoing their trip to Vancouver.

Iranian media said the federation's president, Mehdi Taj, a former member of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, and two of his colleagues returned to Tehran after being "humiliated" by Canadian immigration officers.

Canada designated the Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization in 2024, and said Wednesday that individuals associated with it were “unacceptable” on its territory.

A statement from the Canadian Immigration Agency said: “While we cannot comment on individual cases due to privacy laws, the government has been clear and consistent: Revolutionary Guard officials are not accepted in Canada and have no place in our country.”

This incident adds more ambiguity to Iran's situation in the World Cup, a situation that has become clouded since the outbreak of war in the Middle East on February 28, with a wave of attacks carried out by the United States and Israel.

Iranian football officials said last month that they had proposed moving their three group stage matches from the United States to Mexico, a plan that FIFA President Gianni Infantino was quick to reject.

Infantino told AFP that Iran will play in the World Cup “where it is supposed to play, according to the draw.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed last week that Iranian players would be welcome to participate in the tournament.

But Rubio warned that the United States may deny entry to members of the Iranian delegation with ties to the Revolutionary Guard.

The FIFA president enters Thursday's meeting facing mounting criticism over the skyrocketing prices of World Cup tickets, and his close friendship with US President Donald Trump.