World Cup
Iranian Football Delegation Turned Back at Toronto Airport, Miss FIFA Congress
An Iranian football federation delegation led by Mehdi Taj was reportedly denied entry into Canada this week, forcing the group to abandon plans to attend a key pre-World Cup meeting.
According to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency, the delegation, which included the federation secretary general Hedayat Mombeni and his deputy Hamed Momeni, arrived in Toronto with valid visas but chose to return to Turkey after what they described as “unacceptable behaviour” by Canadian immigration officials.
The officials had been en route to Vancouver to participate in the FIFA Congress, a gathering that has taken on heightened significance with the FIFA World Cup less than two months away.
In a statement carried by Tasnim, the Iranian federation said the treatment of its officials amounted to an insult, particularly given Taj’s past affiliation with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Canadian authorities declined to comment on the specific case, citing privacy laws, but reiterated a longstanding policy regarding individuals linked to the IRGC.
“We have been clear and consistent: IRGC officials are inadmissible to Canada and have no place in our country,” the government said, noting that it has taken measures to hold the organisation accountable.
Canada formally designated the IRGC as a terrorist organisation in 2024, a move that has since influenced immigration decisions involving individuals associated with the group. Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree reinforced that position, stating that members of the IRGC are not welcome in the country.
The controversy has also drawn criticism from the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, which questioned why Taj had been granted special permission to travel in the first place, arguing that such exemptions undermine Canada’s human rights commitments.
FIFA caught in the middle
Football’s global governing body, FIFA, has reportedly expressed regret over the incident and is seeking to resolve the situation. According to Tasnim, FIFA President Gianni Infantino is expected to meet with the Iranian delegation at FIFA headquarters.
A source at the Congress indicated that FIFA had dispatched a representative to mediate at Toronto airport, but the effort failed to prevent the delegation’s withdrawal.
The absence of Iranian officials was also felt at the Asian Football Confederation gathering in Vancouver, further underlining the ripple effects of the incident.
The episode raises doubts over Iran’s participation logistics in the upcoming World Cup, particularly given the tournament’s multi-country hosting format.
While America’s Marco Rubio has indicated that Iranian players would be allowed to compete, he made clear that individuals with IRGC ties would not be permitted entry into the United States.
A delegate at the AFC Congress summed up the concern: if entry issues are already emerging in Canada, widely regarded as one of the more accessible host nations, the situation could become more complicated in other host countries.
Palestinian Football Association president Jibril Rajoub also warned that visa uncertainties are casting a shadow over preparations, calling for a clearer separation between politics and sport.
The incident comes at a particularly sensitive time, with geopolitical tensions involving Iran continuing to shape international relations. These dynamics are increasingly spilling into football administration, traditionally governed by principles of neutrality and inclusivity.
Iranian authorities are reportedly seeking guarantees to ensure smooth participation at the World Cup, including discussions around travel arrangements and, in extreme scenarios, alternative venues.
For FIFA, the challenge will be to maintain the integrity and inclusiveness of the tournament while navigating the complex political realities imposed by host nations.
With the World Cup fast approaching, the Toronto incident may prove to be more than an isolated diplomatic episode—it could be an early signal of the logistical and political hurdles that lie ahead for one of football’s most globally anticipated events.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
FIFA will increase payments to teams taking part in the 2026 World Cup to almost $900 million, world soccer’s governing body said on Tuesday, citing the commercial success of its expanded flagship men’s tournament.
The FIFA Council, meeting in Vancouver ahead of the 76th FIFA Congress, approved a 15% increase in the resources to be distributed to all 48 participating member associations at next year’s tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
The total pot will rise to $871 million, FIFA said, with each participating team receiving increased preparation money of $2.5 million, up from $1.5 million.
Qualification money will also increase from $9 million to $10 million, while FIFA said additional team contributions would include subsidies for team delegation costs and increased team ticketing allocations totalling more than $16 million.
“FIFA is proud to be in its most solid financial position ever, enabling us to help all our Member Associations in an unprecedented way,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said.
“This is one more example of how FIFA’s resources are reinvested back into the game.”
The sheer scale of staging a tournament across North America, with long-haul travel, differing tax regimes and significant operational demands, had prompted unease among some participating nations.
UEFA had passed on concerns from several European associations that teams could find it difficult to break even unless they progress deep into the competition.
The 2026 World Cup will be the first edition of the men’s tournament to feature 48 teams, up from 32, and will be staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The increased distribution comes as FIFA prepares for the biggest and most commercially lucrative World Cup in history, with more teams, more matches and expanded revenue opportunities across ticketing, sponsorship and broadcast rights.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
FIFA has removed World Cup tickets for matches at Toronto’s BMO Field stadium from their official resale marketplace after the Canadian province of Ontario passed legislation last week banning the reselling of event tickets above face value.
The bill, called the ‘Putting Fans First Act’, says no person shall make a ticket available for sale on the secondary market or facilitate the sale of a ticket on the secondary market for an amount that exceeds the ticket’s face value.
FIFA operates the official resale and exchange marketplace for eligible ticket holders, which it says aims to protect fans and is subject to federal and local regulations, and has now acted after Ontario’s 2026 budget bill passed on Thursday.
Tickets are currently available on FIFA’s marketplace for all 15 other venues and for every match at the World Cup apart from the six games in Toronto, which include Canada’s opening fixture against Bosnia on June 12.
Face-value tickets are currently on sale as part of FIFA’s last-minute sales phase, and additional tickets will continue to be released to the public on an ongoing basis until the World Cup final on July 19, subject to availability.
FIFA’s latest figures show more than five million tickets have already been sold, out of an expected total of just over six million for the tournament, but soccer’s world governing body has faced criticism over pricing, not helped by its use of the variable pricing method and the resale market.
Ticket holders can resell on FIFA’s marketplace at any price, with one seller asking for almost $11.5 million for a Category 3 ticket for the final.
FIFA has defended its secondary market model, saying it is a not-for-profit organisation and revenue generated is reinvested into the global development of football.
Tickets for the games in Toronto are expected to be relisted on FIFA’s marketplace in line with Ontario’s new legislation.
The World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico, starts on June 11.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
FIFA is considering a significant tweak to its disciplinary rules ahead of this summer’s expanded World Cup, with plans to introduce an additional yellow card amnesty stage.
The proposal, which will be discussed at a FIFA Council meeting in Vancouver on Tuesday, would see players’ yellow cards cleared twice during the tournament — after the group stage and again following the quarter-finals.
Under the current system, players who accumulate two yellow cards at any point up to and including the quarter-finals are suspended for the next match.
However, with the new 48-team format set to debut across the United States, Canada and Mexico, FIFA believes the existing rule could unfairly sideline players during crucial knockout fixtures.
The expanded competition introduces an additional round, increasing the number of matches players must navigate before reaching the latter stages. As a result, the governing body is seeking to reduce the likelihood of key players missing high-stakes games such as semi-finals due to accumulated bookings.
If approved, the change would mark a notable shift in tournament regulations, aimed at preserving competitive balance while adapting to the demands of the larger World Cup format
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Arsenal, Atletico trade penalties in Champions League semi-final draw
Iranian Football Delegation Turned Back at Toronto Airport, Miss FIFA Congress
CAF, UEFA Renew Alliance 29 Years After Meridian Cup Pact
Breaking! Uzoho suspended from Super Eagles’ next match with Sierra Leone
No longer Super League as CAF changes name of its new clubs competition
NIGERIAN FOOTBALL CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SANUSI CHARGES NIGERIAN COACHES TO BE UPRIGHT, DILIGENT
- Nigerian Football1 week ago
Football Returns Home: Lagos Reclaims Its Place at the Heart of the Nigerian Game
- Premier League7 days ago
Manchester City End Arsenal’s Six-Month Reign at the Summit
- Nigerian Football3 days ago
Kunle Soname at 60: The Quiet Architect of Nigerian Football’s Modern Dream
- Nigerian Football7 days ago
Sporting Lagos’ “Trial by Fire”: Enakhena Lifts the Lid on Ordeal Behind NPFL Promotion
- Boxing2 days ago
Joshua to make comeback fight in Riyadh in July before facing Fury
- Olympics12 hours ago
Super Falcons Draw Bye, Set to Face South Sudan or Comoros in LA 2028 Olympic Qualifiers
- U-20 FOOTBALL1 day ago
Football Meets History as Ghana Set To Celebrate 70 Years of Independence with U-20 Afcon Hosting
- TRANSFER MARKET1 week ago
Barcelona Target Victor Osimhen in transfer market overhaul