A delegation from the Iran Football Federation, which Iranian media reports said included a former member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, stated that it returned from Toronto after arriving in Canada due to what it described as improper treatment by immigration officials. The incident will reportedly prevent the delegation from attending a pre-event related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Vancouver.

The semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported that the delegation included federation president Mehdi Taj, secretary general Hedayat Mombini, and vice president Hamid Momeni. Despite holding valid visas, they reportedly returned after what they considered “inappropriate behavior” by Canadian immigration authorities.

No official statement has yet been issued by Canadian authorities regarding the incident.