Iran and World Cup concerns set to dominate FIFA Congress in Vancouver

VANCOUVER: FIFA’s 76th Congress is due to open in Vancouver on Thursday, with football officials gathering less than two months before the start of the expanded World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

The meeting is expected to bring together around 1,600 delegates from more than 200 member associations. The war involving Iran, operational concerns surrounding the World Cup, and the unresolved issue of Russia’s suspension from international football are likely to feature prominently in discussions.

Iran’s absence has already emerged as a major issue ahead of the gathering. Officials of the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) left Canada after arriving in Toronto earlier this week and did not continue on to Vancouver.

Iranian media said FFIRI president Mehdi Taj and two other officials returned home after being insulted by Canadian immigration officers. Taj is a former member of Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Canada, which designated the IRGC a terrorist organisation in 2024, said on Wednesday that people linked to the force are not admissible. In a statement, Canada’s immigration agency said "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".

The development has added to uncertainty surrounding Iran’s participation in the World Cup. Uncertainty has persisted since the Middle East war began on February 28 with attacks by the United States and Israel.

Last month, Iranian football officials said they had proposed shifting their three World Cup group-stage matches from the United States to co-host Mexico. FIFA President Gianni Infantino, however, rejected the idea. Infantino told AFP that Iran would play at the World Cup "where they are supposed to be, according to the draw."

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week that Iran’s players would be allowed to take part in the tournament. However, he also said the United States could still deny entry to members of the Iranian delegation who have links to the IRGC.

Infantino faces pressure on several fronts

Infantino is also heading into the Congress under pressure after criticism over sharply rising World Cup ticket prices and his close relationship with US President Donald Trump.

FIFA said on Tuesday that it had increased World Cup financial distributions to nearly $900 million, up from the $727 million initially announced in December. The increase came after several teams that have qualified for the World Cup reportedly warned they could face financial losses from taking part in the enlarged tournament because of travel costs, taxes and broader operating expenses.

Human rights groups have also urged Infantino to use his address to delegates to provide assurances over the safety of World Cup visitors in the United States amid immigration enforcement concerns under the Trump administration.

Amnesty International’s head of economic and social justice Steve Cockburn said on Wednesday "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"

He added in a statement "This FIFA Congress should be the moment he does so, and the global football community must receive more than empty platitudes".

Infantino is also facing calls to scrap the FIFA Peace Prize, which he presented to Trump during last December’s World Cup draw in Washington. Norwegian football association president Lise Klaveness told reporters this week "We want to see (the prize) abolished"

She added :We don't think it's part of FIFA's mandate to give such a prize".

Russia ban may also come under discussion

The Congress could also take up the question of Russia’s continued exclusion from international football, a ban that has remained in place since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Earlier this year, Infantino spoke in favour of revisiting the issue. He told Britain’s Sky News "We have to (look at readmitting Russia) Definitely".