Canada Bars Iranian Officials Linked to IRGC Ahead of Football Conference
In Canada, one of the host nations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a major football federation conference is scheduled to take place this weekend.
Amid this, Canadian immigration authorities have officially announced that members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) are not permitted to enter the country.
The announcement follows the departure of Iranian football federation officials from Canada.
Three Iranian officials, including the federation’s president and deputy secretary, who had traveled with valid visas to attend the FIFA conference in Vancouver, reportedly returned immediately after citing “inappropriate treatment” by immigration officers at Toronto Pearson International Airport.
In response, Canadian authorities reiterated that individuals linked to the IRGC are barred from entering the country.
However, Iran’s Tasnim News Agency accused Canadian officials of disrespecting a significant branch of the Iranian military.
Canada has already imposed restrictions on senior IRGC members and commanders, citing terrorism-related allegations and human rights concerns.
Meanwhile, criticism has also emerged within Canada regarding how visas were initially granted to the Iranian football officials, with reports indicating that further scrutiny was carried out by immigration authorities upon their arrival.
