Iran federation delegates miss AFC Congress in Vancouver after visa issues

Iranian football federation executives were absent from the Asian Football Confederation Congress in Vancouver on Tuesday after what the AFC described as visa formalities issues.The annual meeting, held at the Vancouver Convention Centre, took place two days before the FIFA Congress at the same venue and brought together officials from 46 of the AFC’s 47 member associations.AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa said some delegates were “not able to join us today due to the conflict affecting their regions”, with several participants joining remotely.AFC general secretary Windsor John said during the roll call: “Kindly note that the Football Federation of Islamic Republic of Iran is unable to attend the 36th (AFC) Congress 2026 due to some visa formalities issues.”Iran’s non-attendance mattered symbolically and practically given the event’s positioning as a lead-in to the FIFA Congress, where FIFA had expected representation from all 211 member associations.During a ceremony recognising Asian nations that have qualified for the 2026 men’s World Cup, John said Iran’s commemorative shield would be presented “once they arrive”, signalling expectations that officials may still travel in time for Thursday’s meeting.Visa challenges also affected other delegations, with Palestinian Football Association vice-president Susan Shalabi saying her organisation was among “10–12 federations” that had problems securing visas.Shalabi said the Palestinian federation initially faced multiple refusals, adding: “After a lot of contacting on the political level, on the social level, on the media level … the government changed their minds, and we were able to get that visa.”She said the federation’s president, Jibril Rajoub, did not receive a visa in time for the AFC Congress but was expected to arrive later this week in time for the FIFA Congress.Questions over delegate access come as football bodies plan for World Cup operational delivery across Canada, Mexico and the United States, where tournament logistics depend on the movement of executives, staff, media and commercial partners as well as teams.Iranian officials faced similar challenges around the World Cup draw in Washington in December, when multiple visa applications were denied before a smaller delegation ultimately attended.In the United States, the policy backdrop includes travel restrictions and screening decisions that can apply differently to athletes, support staff and senior federation executives.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week: “The problem with Iran would be not their athletes, it would be some of the other people they would want to bring with them.“We might not be able to let them in, but the athletes themselves (will be allowed).”The mood inside Tuesday’s AFC meeting was also shaped by the war in the Middle East, with Sheikh Salman telling delegates: “I want to begin by recognizing the realities beyond football that weigh heavily on many of our Asian football family.”FIFA president Gianni Infantino told the room: “Now, even more, we have to show the world that we are here and we are united, and we can come together from all over the world in a peaceful environment.”The next steps are whether Iran’s delegation secures entry in time for the FIFA Congress, and whether FIFA and host authorities provide clearer protocols on visa processing for federation executives and official staff across the 2026 World Cup cycle.