South Africa plan to arrive in Mexico almost a fortnight before the opening game of the World Cup in order to acclimatise to the ​altitude, coach Hugo Broos said.

Co-hosts Mexico open the tournament on June 11 ‌with a Group A match against South Africa at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, which is 2,200m (7,216 feet) above sea level.

While most of the South African players are based at clubs ​in Johannesburg, which has an altitude of 1,753m, Broos says his squad need ​time to adjust to the conditions in Mexico before the opening ⁠game.

The squad will travel on May 30 to their base in Pachuca, which is ​around 200 metres higher than Mexico City. The city is less than 100 km ​from Mexico City.

“The first days it will be difficult to train at 100% because of the altitude, so that is what we will do in the second week,” Broos said in a radio ​interview.

South Africa plan to take on Nicaragua at home in a friendly on May ​29, although this is not confirmed, and are negotiating to have Puerto Rico as a warm-up ‌opponent ⁠for a second international scrimmage in Pachuca.

In their other World Cup group matches, South Africa will meet the Czech Republic in Atlanta on June 18 and South Korea in Monterrey on June 24, seeking to advance past the first round for the first time ​in their fourth World ​Cup appearance.

“It’s not ⁠an easy group for us. First of all, we will face the hosts in the opening game, at the Azteca Stadium, ​and it will be very difficult for us there,” Broos said ​earlier in ⁠the year.

But the veteran coach, who played for semi-finalists Belgium at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, has also previously predicted his side could cause some upsets at the tournament, ⁠which is ​also being played in Canada and the U.S.

South ​Africa and Mexico drew 1-1 at Soccer City in Johannesburg in the opening game of the 2010 World ​Cup, which South Africa hosted.

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FIFA president Gianni Infantino insisted Iran would play World ​Cup matches in the United States as the soccer governing body’s Congress opened on Thursday without the country’s delegation, its absence ‌highlighting tensions and challenges surrounding the tournament.

“Let me start at the outset. Of course, Iran will be participating in the FIFA World Cup 2026. And of course Iran will play in the United States of America,” Infantino said.

“And the reason for that is very simple: we have to unite. It is my responsibility, our responsibility.”

U.S. President Donald Trump said ​he was “okay” with Iran playing at the World Cup.

“Well, if Gianni said it, I’m okay. Did Gianni say it?… You know what? ​Let them play. Well, Gianni’s fantastic, he’s a friend of mine. He talked about it,” Trump told reporters on ⁠Thursday.

“I said you do whatever you want. You can have them. You don’t have to have them. They probably have a good team. Do they ​have a good team?”

Iran have qualified for the June 11-July 19 tournament, but their participation has been fraught, with Tehran requesting alternative venues for matches ​on U.S. soil.

FIFA has rejected the request, insisting the schedule would stand.

Iranian football federation officials, including president Mehdi Taj, were due to attend the Congress but turned back at Toronto airport after what Tehran described as “unacceptable behaviour” by Canadian immigration authorities, despite travelling with valid visas.

The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, underscored the practical and political obstacles surrounding Iran’s participation ​in the World Cup, the most politically sensitive item on FIFA’s agenda since the U.S. and Israel launched a war against Iran in February.

A source ​with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters two members of the delegation could have attended the FIFA congress but chose not to after one of their delegation ‌members was denied ⁠entry into Canada.

Taj is a former member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Canadian officials said entry decisions were made on a case-by-case basis and individuals linked to the IRGC, which Ottawa designates as a terrorist organisation, are inadmissible.

“I can provide the following assurances and facts. One is that, as you know, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and all those members have been listed as a terrorist organisation for several years,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said.

“The members are ​prohibited from coming. We have a ​series of screenings, and we take ⁠action. And no members have entered the country. Action has been taken appropriately.”

Iran’s absence deprived the congress of direct representation from a country whose presence at the 2026 World Cup is already shaping behind-the-scenes discussions, and the issue ​is particularly acute given the tournament’s cross-border nature.

The expanded 48-team World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, the United States ​and Mexico, will ⁠require teams, officials and support staff to move repeatedly between jurisdictions, raising the prospect that visa restrictions or diplomatic frictions could complicate planning for certain nations.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week Washington had no objections to Iranian players participating in the World Cup, but added that the players would not be allowed to ⁠bring with ​them people with ties to the IRGC.

Outside the convention centre, about 30 protesters draped in Iranian ​flags and holding signs gathered to voice their desire to see regime change in Iran. The protesters chanted their support for Iranian opposition figure Reza Pahlavi.

“IRGC is terrorists,” they chanted. “No deal ​with terrorists.” “Hey FIFA, oi FIFA, no deal with terrorists.”

-Reuters

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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.

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