WANA (May 02) – FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström has issued a formal apology to Mehdi Taj, President of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI), following an incident involving the Iranian delegation’s attempted entry into Canada.

 

In a formal letter, Grafström invited Taj to attend the 76th FIFA Congress in Zurich and expressed deep regret over the treatment of the Iranian officials.

 

The apology follows an incident where the Iranian delegation returned to Tehran after facing what they described as political obstruction and harassment by Canadian authorities.

 

FIFA’s Letter of Regret

The letter from the Secretary General expressed FIFA’s “sincere regret” over the situation:

 

“On behalf of FIFA, I learned with great disappointment that you were unable to enter Canada to attend the FIFA Congress and subsequently returned with the rest of the Iranian delegation. Upon learning of this, FIFA immediately engaged at the highest levels with local authorities to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. Please accept our sincere apologies that these efforts did not yield a result and that this situation caused inconvenience and frustration for you and your team.”

 

The governing body emphasized that while entry decisions rest with national authorities, FIFA maintains the importance of representation for all member associations.

 

To ensure Iran’s continued participation, FIFA requested that the federation appoint a representative for the Congress, adding that “football transcends all differences and obstacles.”

 

World Cup 2026 Preparations

The Secretary General also extended a personal invitation for Taj and the Iranian delegation to meet in Zurich on May 20, 2026, to discuss ongoing planning for the Iranian National Team’s participation in the FIFA World Cup 2026.

 

FIFA reaffirmed its commitment to working with host organizers to ensure a “safe and secure environment” for all participating teams, in accordance with FIFA safety standards.

 

Background on the Incident

The dispute began when the Iranian delegation traveled to Canada for the FIFA Congress but was forced to return to Tehran. Upon his arrival in Iran, Mehdi Taj stated that the delegation decided to leave after Canadian airport security officials made provocative political remarks against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

 

Taj characterized the actions of the Canadian government as “political maneuvering” and an attempt to obstruct the federation’s international duties.