Iran was the only member nation absent from FIFA's annual congress in Vancouver on Thursday, but world football's governing body has reaffirmed that the country will compete in the upcoming World Cup.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated that Iran "will be participating" in the tournament, which is set to take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico this summer. Addressing concerns about Iran's matches in the U.S., given ongoing tensions, Infantino emphasized the unifying power of sports: "Of course, Iran will play in the United States of America. The reason for that is simple, because we have to unite. We have to bring people together."
The absence of Iranian football federation officials, including President Mehdi Taj, was notable. According to Iranian news agency Tasnim, the delegation was turned back at Canadian border control due to their treatment by immigration authorities. Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand indicated that permission to enter was revoked, while Prime Minister Mark Carney noted that members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) are prohibited from entering Canada. Taj is reportedly linked to the IRGC, which Canada designates as a terrorist organization.
The Iranian federation has yet to comment on the incident. The World Cup kicks off on June 11, with Iran scheduled to play New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on June 15 and 21 respectively, followed by a match against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who previously expressed that Iran should be allowed to play for safety reasons, deferred to Infantino's statement, saying, "Well, if Gianni said it, I'm OK. I think let 'em play."
Iran had earlier petitioned to move its games to Mexico, but Infantino consistently maintained the schedule would remain unchanged. In other news, Infantino announced his intention to seek re-election as FIFA president when his current term ends next year, aiming to stay until 2031.