Iranian football officials, led by federation president Mehdi Taj, were forced to turn back at Toronto Pearson International Airport, citing what they described as "unacceptable behavior" by Canadian immigration officials. The delegation was traveling to attend the FIFA Congress, but was denied entry and subsequently returned to Iran.
The Iranian Football Federation issued a statement condemning the treatment, though specific details of the incident remain unclear. The delegation's absence from the FIFA Congress marks a diplomatic setback for Iranian football on the international stage.
This incident adds to existing tensions between Iran and Canada, which have had strained diplomatic relations in recent years. The FIFA Congress, where key decisions on global football governance are made, proceeded without Iran's representatives.