Iran Confirms World Cup Participation Amid Congress Absence

Iran's participation in the upcoming World Cup has been confirmed despite the Iranian Football Federation's absence from the FIFA Congress held in Vancouver, Canada. The federation's president, Mehdi Taj, and other officials were unable to attend due to border control issues, citing treatment by Canadian immigration authorities.

Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister, Anita Anand, noted that the revocation of entry permissions was linked to the designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, which has been in place for several years. FIFA President Gianni Infantino reiterated that Iran would participate in the World Cup scheduled to take place from June 11, 2026, across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Iran is set to face New Zealand and Belgium in the tournament. The situation reflects ongoing diplomatic tensions, as Iran has not had diplomatic relations with Canada for a decade.