Football’s global power players are gathering in Vancouver on Thursday for FIFA’s 76th Congress, a crucial meeting taking place just under two months before the expanded World Cup kicks off across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
A wide-ranging agenda is expected, with roughly 1,600 delegates from more than 200 member associations set to discuss issues including the Iran war, operational challenges surrounding the upcoming tournament, and the unresolved suspension of Russia from international football.
However, tensions involving Iran are already casting a shadow over proceedings.
Officials from the Iranian Football Federation abruptly departed Canada after arriving in Toronto earlier this week, cutting short plans to travel on to Vancouver.
Iranian media reported that FFIRI president Mehdi Taj—a former member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, along with two colleagues returned home after what they described as being “insulted” by Canadian immigration officials.
Canadian authorities, which formally designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist entity in 2024, reaffirmed that individuals linked to it are not permitted entry.
“While we cannot comment on individual cases due to privacy laws, the government has been clear and consistent: IRGC officials are inadmissible to Canada and have no place in our country,” Canada’s immigration agency said in a statement.
The incident adds further uncertainty to Iran’s participation at the World Cup, already complicated by geopolitical tensions following the Middle East conflict that escalated on February 28 with attacks involving the United States and Israel.
Iranian officials had previously proposed relocating their three group-stage matches away from the United States to co-host Mexico, but the idea was rejected by FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Infantino has insisted Iran will take part as originally scheduled. He told AFP that Iran will play at the World Cup “where they are supposed to be, according to the draw.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also said Iranian players would be allowed to compete, though he warned that certain officials linked to the IRGC could still face entry restrictions into the US.
– Infantino faces growing scrutiny –
The FIFA president arrives in Vancouver under increasing pressure over several issues, including rising ticket prices for the tournament and his public ties to US President Donald Trump.
FIFA announced on Tuesday that total World Cup financial distributions have been increased to nearly $900 million, up from an earlier projection of $727 million, following concerns from some qualified teams about the financial burden of participating in the expanded competition.
There are also growing calls from rights groups for clearer guarantees regarding the safety of fans, journalists, and visiting delegations amid concerns over US immigration enforcement policies.
Amnesty International’s head of economic and social justice, Steve Cockburn, urged FIFA to take a stronger stance.
“FIFA President Gianni Infantino has yet to publicly outline how fans, journalists and local communities will be safe from arbitrary detention, mass deportations and crackdowns on free expression.”
Amnesty International’s head of economic and social justice Steve Cockburn said Wednesday.
“This FIFA Congress should be the moment he does so, and the global football community must receive more than empty platitudes,” Cockburn added in a statement.
Infantino is also facing renewed criticism over the FIFA Peace Prize, which he presented to Trump during last December’s World Cup draw in Washington.
Norwegian Football Federation president Lise Klaveness has led calls for its removal, arguing it falls outside FIFA’s remit.
“We want to see (the prize) abolished,” Norwegian football association president Lise Klaveness told reporters this week. “We don’t think it’s part of FIFA’s mandate to give such a prize.”
Beyond these controversies, the Congress is also expected to revisit the issue of Russia’s suspension from international football, which has remained in place since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Infantino has previously suggested the ban should be reconsidered, telling Sky News earlier this year:, “We have to (look at readmitting Russia). Definitely.
“This ban has not achieved anything, it has just created more frustration and hatred.”
