Gianni Infantino Confirms Iran Will Compete in United States for World Cup Despite Congress Absence

Gianni Infantino insists Iran will play 2026 World Cup matches in the US after the Iranian delegation was denied entry to Canada for the FIFA Congress.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 30, 2026, 4:21 PM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Times of Israel

Global Football Governing Body Pledges Unity

FIFA President Gianni Infantino utilized the opening of the organization’s Congress in Vancouver to address growing uncertainty regarding Iran's role in the 2026 World Cup. Speaking to attendees, Infantino emphasized that the Iranian national team would indeed fulfill its scheduled fixtures on American soil regardless of the deteriorating political climate between Tehran and the West. The president framed the decision as a fulfillment of FIFA's core responsibility to use international sport as a unifying force, asserting that the simple necessity of global cooperation dictates Iran's continued involvement in the tournament.

Delegation Blocked at Canadian Border

The start of the Congress was overshadowed by the physical absence of the Iranian football federation’s leadership, including its president, Mehdi Taj. According to reports from Reuters, the Iranian officials were forced to abandon their travel plans at Toronto airport following a confrontation with Canadian immigration authorities. Tehran has characterized the incident as unacceptable behavior by Canada, noting that their representatives were traveling with what they believed to be valid entry visas. A source familiar with the situation indicated that while two members were technically eligible to stay, the entire group chose to depart after one colleague was formally denied entry.

Security Designations Influence Visa Decisions

The friction at the border appears rooted in the professional background of certain Iranian football executives and Canada's strict national security laws. Mehdi Taj is recognized as a former member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, an organization that the Canadian government has officially designated as a terrorist entity. Canadian officials have defended the decision by clarifying that all entry applications are reviewed on a case by case basis, and individuals with verified links to the IRGC are considered inadmissible under current federal statutes.