Toronto: FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström has expressed regret over Canada's decision to deny entry to Mehdi Taj, President of the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran, for the FIFA Congress being held in the country. According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Grafström addressed Taj in a letter on Saturday, acknowledging the diplomatic incident regarding his entry denial at Canada's borders. Grafström emphasized the importance of having representatives from all FIFA member associations at the congress. He urged the Iranian federation to appoint another representative to attend the event and expressed FIFA's willingness to assist in the process. FIFA has also extended an invitation to Taj for a meeting in Zurich, Switzerland, scheduled for May 20, 2026. The meeting aims to discuss Iran's participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and FIFA has pledged to assist in securing the necessary visas for this purpose. The Iranian delegation, which included federation President Mehdi Taj, Secretary-Ge neral Hedayat Mombeni, and Deputy Hamed Momeni, was turned back upon arrival at Toronto's Pearson airport despite having valid visas. The delegation was traveling to Vancouver to attend Thursday's FIFA Congress, a gathering of representatives from all 211 member associations ahead of the World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico.