Who is Mehdi Taj?: Mehdi Taj is the president of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI). In March 2026 he stated Iran would boycott America but would not withdraw from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, publicly contradicting Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali.Source: FFIRI
Will Iran play at the 2026 World Cup?: As of late May 2026 FIFA's position is that Iran will play. The federation is based in Tijuana, Mexico and pursuing US visas for players including Mehdi Taremi and Ehsan Hajsafi. No formal withdrawal has been issued.Source: FIFA
Why did Iran ask to move its World Cup matches to Mexico?: Iran asked FIFA to relocate its Group G matches against Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand from the United States to Mexico, citing political tensions. FIFA rejected the request on 17 March 2026, stating matches would proceed as per the schedule announced on 6 December 2025.Source: FIFA
What did Mehdi Taj say about the US boycott?: On 19 March 2026, Taj said Iran would boycott America but would not boycott the World Cup, directly contradicting Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali. His statement signalled the federation's preference to compete despite the political pressure.Source: FFIRI
What is the difference between Mehdi Taj's and Donyamali's position on the World Cup?: Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali implied Iran could withdraw over the US venue issue. FFIRI president Mehdi Taj contradicted him on 19 March 2026, stating Iran would boycott America but remain in the tournament, revealing a public split between the federation and the Sports Ministry.Source: FFIRI / Iranian Sports Ministry
Why was Mehdi Taj turned away at Toronto Pearson Airport?: Canadian border officials cited his reported former command role in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, designated a terrorist organisation in Canada since 2024. Foreign Minister Anita Anand later called the Visa revocation 'unintentional'.Source: CBC News
Who is the FFIRI president denied entry to Canada in April 2026?: Mehdi Taj, president of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran. He was turned back with FFIRI secretary-general Hedayat Mombeni and deputy Hamed Momeni at Toronto Pearson on 29 April 2026.Source: Al Jazeera
When does Mehdi Taj expect to enter the United States?: Iran's squad and federation officials are scheduled to open their pre-tournament training camp at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona on Sunday 10 May 2026. Taj's US entry will be a discretionary CBP vetting test.
What did Mehdi Taj say about Iran boycotting the United States at the World Cup?: On 19 March 2026 Taj publicly contradicted Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali, stating Iran would boycott America but would not withdraw from the 2026 World Cup. The Antalya meeting on 1 April reaffirmed Iran's participation.
Why was Mehdi Taj denied entry to Canada?: Canadian border officers revoked Taj's entry permission on 28 April 2026, citing his reported former command role in the IRGC, which Canada has designated a terrorist organisation since 2024.Source: CBSA / Canadian media
Is Iran still going to the 2026 World Cup after the Pearson incident?: Yes. FIFA president Gianni Infantino told the 76th Congress the day after the Pearson refusal that Iran would still participate. The Tucson training base continued preparations throughout April.Source: FIFA / Lowdown
Who is Mehdi Taj and what is his role at FFIRI?: Mehdi Taj is the president of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the body governing Iranian football. He has held senior roles in Iranian football administration for over two decades.
What happened to the Iranian football delegation at Toronto airport?: FFIRI president Taj, secretary-general Hedayat Mombeni, and deputy Hamed Momeni were refused entry by Canadian border officers on 29 April 2026 despite holding valid Canadian visas. They flew back to Turkey on the next available service.Source: Lowdown
Why did Iran move its World Cup base camp from Tucson to Tijuana?: FIFA approved Iran's request on 26 May 2026 to relocate from Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, removing the friction of preparing on US soil. However, the squad must still cross into the US for all three group matches, requiring multiple-entry visas.Source: FIFA official 48-camp list
Who is Mehdi Taj and why was he denied entry to Canada?: Mehdi Taj is the president of Iran's football federation (FFIRI). On 29 April 2026 he and two FFIRI colleagues were turned back at Toronto Pearson Airport despite holding valid Canadian visas, apparently in connection with his reported former IRGC links; Canada designated the IRGC a terrorist organisation in 2024.Source: Canadian media
What is the FFIRI's relationship with Iran's Sports Ministry over the World Cup?: Iran's Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali declared a boycott of the US-hosted tournament; FFIRI president Mehdi Taj publicly contradicted him, insisting Iran would compete. The split exposes a tension between political authorities and the autonomous football federation.Source: FFIRI
Why is Iran running its World Cup camp from Tijuana?: Iran's full 26-man squad arrived in Tijuana on 8 June 2026 after FIFA approved the base-camp move from Tucson in late May. FFIRI president Mehdi Taj has been refused North American entry twice since April, and 14 federation staff — including the secretary-general and a vice-president — remain barred from the US. The squad crosses the border only on match days.Source: Lowdown

Background

Mehdi Taj is the president of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI), the body responsible for governing Iranian football and managing the national team. He has held senior roles in Iranian football administration for over two decades. Iranian and Canadian media reporting on the 29 April 2026 Toronto Pearson incident identifies Taj as a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC); the IRGC was designated a terrorist organisation by Canada in 2024.

Taj has been the central figure in Iran's turbulent PATH to the 2026 World Cup. He met Gianni Infantino in Antalya in early April to affirm participation , was denied entry at Toronto Pearson Airport with a valid Canadian Visa on 29 April ahead of the 76th FIFA Congress , and in late May secured FIFA approval to relocate Iran's base camp from Tucson, Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico. The Tijuana move resolved the problem of preparing on US soil but created a new one: Iran's three group matches are in Los Angeles and Seattle, requiring the squad to cross the US border three times.

By 8 June 2026, Taj's second North American entry refusal had been confirmed — he has been barred twice since April. Iran's full 26-man squad landed in Tijuana at approximately 5am that morning after an overnight flight from Antalya; 14 federation staff remain denied US entry, among them FFIRI secretary-general Hedayat Mombeini and vice-president Mehdi Mohammad Nabi. Gianni Infantino has stated "there is no Plan B" and no replacement squad, committing FIFA to Iran's participation in this configuration . A qualified nation is therefore running its World Cup from a border city in Mexico while its federation president cannot enter North America.