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Canadian official backs up report that Iranian football chiefs were denied entry for FIFA event Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said Wednesday it was her “understanding” that Iranian football officials were denied entry into her country ahead of the FIFA Congress meeting in Vancouver just weeks before the start of the World Cup.Anand appeared to confirm a report from Tasnim, an Iranian news agency associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, but she said the denial was “unintentional.”Tasnim reported that Iranian Football Federation president Mehdi Taj and two other Iranian officials were denied entry due to “inappropriate behavior of immigration officials” at Toronto’s Pearson Airport.“It’s not my personal lead, but my understanding is that there is a revocation of the permission. It was unintentional, but I’ll leave it to the minister to indicate,” Anand said, apparently referring to Immigration Minister Lena Diab.The online news outlet Iran International first reported that Taj had been granted a visa Monday and had been removed from Canada late Tuesday evening due to his connections to the IRGC, a listed terrorist entity in Canada.ALSO READ: Canadian government allocates 5 million for FIFA World Cup 2026 securityAn emailed response from Diab’s office said all visa applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by trained officials.“While we cannot comment on individual cases due to privacy laws, the government has been clear and consistent: IRGC officials are inadmissible to Canada and have no place in our country,” said Taous Ait, Diab’s press secretary.The FIFA Congress gathering comes weeks before the start of a World Cup that is being co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Representatives from each of the 211 federations in football’s governing body were expected to attend the event that begins Thursday.FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Iran’s status for the event.Published on Apr 30, 2026 #Canadian #official #backs #report #Iranian #football #chiefs #denied #entry #FIFA #event

Canadian official backs up report that Iranian football chiefs were denied entry for FIFA event

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said Wednesday it was her “understanding” that Iranian football officials were denied entry into her country ahead of the FIFA Congress meeting in Vancouver just weeks before the start of the World Cup.

Anand appeared to confirm a report from Tasnim, an Iranian news agency associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, but she said the denial was “unintentional.”

Tasnim reported that Iranian Football Federation president Mehdi Taj and two other Iranian officials were denied entry due to “inappropriate behavior of immigration officials” at Toronto’s Pearson Airport.

“It’s not my personal lead, but my understanding is that there is a revocation of the permission. It was unintentional, but I’ll leave it to the minister to indicate,” Anand said, apparently referring to Immigration Minister Lena Diab.

The online news outlet Iran International first reported that Taj had been granted a visa Monday and had been removed from Canada late Tuesday evening due to his connections to the IRGC, a listed terrorist entity in Canada.

ALSO READ: Canadian government allocates $145 million for FIFA World Cup 2026 security

An emailed response from Diab’s office said all visa applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by trained officials.

“While we cannot comment on individual cases due to privacy laws, the government has been clear and consistent: IRGC officials are inadmissible to Canada and have no place in our country,” said Taous Ait, Diab’s press secretary.

The FIFA Congress gathering comes weeks before the start of a World Cup that is being co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Representatives from each of the 211 federations in football’s governing body were expected to attend the event that begins Thursday.

FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Iran’s status for the event.

Published on Apr 30, 2026

#Canadian #official #backs #report #Iranian #football #chiefs #denied #entry #FIFA #event

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Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said Wednesday it was her “understanding” that Iranian football officials were denied entry into her country ahead of the FIFA Congress meeting in Vancouver just weeks before the start of the World Cup.

Anand appeared to confirm a report from Tasnim, an Iranian news agency associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, but she said the denial was “unintentional.”

Tasnim reported that Iranian Football Federation president Mehdi Taj and two other Iranian officials were denied entry due to “inappropriate behavior of immigration officials” at Toronto’s Pearson Airport.

“It’s not my personal lead, but my understanding is that there is a revocation of the permission. It was unintentional, but I’ll leave it to the minister to indicate,” Anand said, apparently referring to Immigration Minister Lena Diab.

The online news outlet Iran International first reported that Taj had been granted a visa Monday and had been removed from Canada late Tuesday evening due to his connections to the IRGC, a listed terrorist entity in Canada.

ALSO READ: Canadian government allocates $145 million for FIFA World Cup 2026 security

An emailed response from Diab’s office said all visa applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by trained officials.

“While we cannot comment on individual cases due to privacy laws, the government has been clear and consistent: IRGC officials are inadmissible to Canada and have no place in our country,” said Taous Ait, Diab’s press secretary.

The FIFA Congress gathering comes weeks before the start of a World Cup that is being co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Representatives from each of the 211 federations in football’s governing body were expected to attend the event that begins Thursday.

FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Iran’s status for the event.

Published on Apr 30, 2026

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Deadspin | Mariners star Cal Raleigh (oblique) activated from IL May 11, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) puts on his mask after a play during the second inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images American League MVP runner-up Cal Raleigh returns from an absence of just more than a month due to a right oblique strain when the Seattle Mariners host the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night. Raleigh last played on May 13 and has struggled this season, hitting just .161 with seven homers and 18 RBIs in 41 games. He was activated from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday afternoon to end his first career stint on the IL. Last season, Raleigh put together one of the best seasons by a catcher in major league history when he finished behind only Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees in AL MVP balloting. He hit a franchise-best 60 homers, the most in a history by a catcher and by a switch-hitter. Raleigh, 29, also had 125 RBIs and won the Silver Slugger Award. He started the All-Star Game and became the first catcher to win the Home Run Derby. Raleigh is his sixth big-league season. He first reached the majors with the Mariners in 2021. Seattle also activated shortstop J.P. Crawford (right hand contusion) and optioned catcher Jhonny Pereda to Triple-A Tacoma. Crawford, 31, was injured when Detroit Tigers left-hander Framber Valdez hit the hand with a pitch on June 5. He is batting .228 with 10 homers and 23 RBIs in 55 games this season. Crawford is in his eighth season with the Mariners and 10th overall in the majors. Pereda, 30, was batting .270 with two homers and four RBIs in 19 games with Seattle this season. He’s best known for striking out Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers in May of 2025 when serving as a mop-up pitcher in a blowout loss while playing for the Athletics. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Mariners #star #Cal #Raleigh #oblique #activatedMay 11, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) puts on his mask after a play during the second inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

American League MVP runner-up Cal Raleigh returns from an absence of just more than a month due to a right oblique strain when the Seattle Mariners host the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night.

Raleigh last played on May 13 and has struggled this season, hitting just .161 with seven homers and 18 RBIs in 41 games. He was activated from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday afternoon to end his first career stint on the IL.

Last season, Raleigh put together one of the best seasons by a catcher in major league history when he finished behind only Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees in AL MVP balloting. He hit a franchise-best 60 homers, the most in a history by a catcher and by a switch-hitter.

Raleigh, 29, also had 125 RBIs and won the Silver Slugger Award. He started the All-Star Game and became the first catcher to win the Home Run Derby.


Raleigh is his sixth big-league season. He first reached the majors with the Mariners in 2021.

Seattle also activated shortstop J.P. Crawford (right hand contusion) and optioned catcher Jhonny Pereda to Triple-A Tacoma.

Crawford, 31, was injured when Detroit Tigers left-hander Framber Valdez hit the hand with a pitch on June 5.

He is batting .228 with 10 homers and 23 RBIs in 55 games this season. Crawford is in his eighth season with the Mariners and 10th overall in the majors.

Pereda, 30, was batting .270 with two homers and four RBIs in 19 games with Seattle this season. He’s best known for striking out Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers in May of 2025 when serving as a mop-up pitcher in a blowout loss while playing for the Athletics.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Mariners #star #Cal #Raleigh #oblique #activated">Deadspin | Mariners star Cal Raleigh (oblique) activated from IL May 11, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) puts on his mask after a play during the second inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images American League MVP runner-up Cal Raleigh returns from an absence of just more than a month due to a right oblique strain when the Seattle Mariners host the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night. Raleigh last played on May 13 and has struggled this season, hitting just .161 with seven homers and 18 RBIs in 41 games. He was activated from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday afternoon to end his first career stint on the IL. Last season, Raleigh put together one of the best seasons by a catcher in major league history when he finished behind only Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees in AL MVP balloting. He hit a franchise-best 60 homers, the most in a history by a catcher and by a switch-hitter. Raleigh, 29, also had 125 RBIs and won the Silver Slugger Award. He started the All-Star Game and became the first catcher to win the Home Run Derby. Raleigh is his sixth big-league season. He first reached the majors with the Mariners in 2021. Seattle also activated shortstop J.P. Crawford (right hand contusion) and optioned catcher Jhonny Pereda to Triple-A Tacoma. Crawford, 31, was injured when Detroit Tigers left-hander Framber Valdez hit the hand with a pitch on June 5. He is batting .228 with 10 homers and 23 RBIs in 55 games this season. Crawford is in his eighth season with the Mariners and 10th overall in the majors. Pereda, 30, was batting .270 with two homers and four RBIs in 19 games with Seattle this season. He’s best known for striking out Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers in May of 2025 when serving as a mop-up pitcher in a blowout loss while playing for the Athletics. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Mariners #star #Cal #Raleigh #oblique #activated

The living legend scored a hat trick against Algeria as Argentina began its defense of the 2022 World Cup win, and with his third goal, he pulled level with Miroslav Klose atop the list of all-time goal scorers in World Cup history with 16.

Messi looked to open his 2026 World Cup account in the early minutes against Algeria, but the goal was waved off by the officials for offside.

Messi launched a left-footed rocket from outside the box, putting Argentina on the board in the 17th minute.

Here is another look at the first goal:

Then in the 60th minute, Messi was the man on the spot, as he slotted home this rebound:

Algeria keeper Luca Zidane — yes, the son of French legend Zinedine Zidane — stopped an initial attempt from Alexis Mac Allister, but Messi slotted home the loose ball to stake Argentina to a 2-0 lead, and score his second goal of the game.

Here is another look at Messi’s second goal against Algeria:

Messi had a chance at the hat trick a few minutes later, but Zidane managed to turn this shot aside:

But Zidane would not stop this attempt, as the legend secured his hat trick:

The third goal came off the left foot of Messi, as he gathered in a pass from Nico González, settled the ball at his feet, and then launched a rocket by Zidane for his third of the night, and the 16th World Cup of his incredible career.

Argentina secured a 3-0 win, thanks to Messi’s hat trick, and both player and team are off to a roaring start at the 2026 World Cup.

#Lionel #Messis #hat #trick #Algeria #ties #Miroslav #Klose #alltime #World #Cup #goals">Lionel Messi’s hat trick against Algeria ties Miroslav Klose for all-time World Cup goals Lionel Messi’s first match at the 2026 World Cup was one for the record books.The living legend scored a hat trick against Algeria as Argentina began its defense of the 2022 World Cup win, and with his third goal, he pulled level with Miroslav Klose atop the list of all-time goal scorers in World Cup history with 16.Messi looked to open his 2026 World Cup account in the early minutes against Algeria, but the goal was waved off by the officials for offside.Messi launched a left-footed rocket from outside the box, putting Argentina on the board in the 17th minute.Here is another look at the first goal:Then in the 60th minute, Messi was the man on the spot, as he slotted home this rebound:Algeria keeper Luca Zidane — yes, the son of French legend Zinedine Zidane — stopped an initial attempt from Alexis Mac Allister, but Messi slotted home the loose ball to stake Argentina to a 2-0 lead, and score his second goal of the game.Here is another look at Messi’s second goal against Algeria:Messi had a chance at the hat trick a few minutes later, but Zidane managed to turn this shot aside:But Zidane would not stop this attempt, as the legend secured his hat trick:The third goal came off the left foot of Messi, as he gathered in a pass from Nico González, settled the ball at his feet, and then launched a rocket by Zidane for his third of the night, and the 16th World Cup of his incredible career.Argentina secured a 3-0 win, thanks to Messi’s hat trick, and both player and team are off to a roaring start at the 2026 World Cup. #Lionel #Messis #hat #trick #Algeria #ties #Miroslav #Klose #alltime #World #Cup #goals

2026 World Cup was one for the record books.

The living legend scored a hat trick against Algeria as Argentina began its defense of the 2022 World Cup win, and with his third goal, he pulled level with Miroslav Klose atop the list of all-time goal scorers in World Cup history with 16.

Messi looked to open his 2026 World Cup account in the early minutes against Algeria, but the goal was waved off by the officials for offside.

Messi launched a left-footed rocket from outside the box, putting Argentina on the board in the 17th minute.

Here is another look at the first goal:

Then in the 60th minute, Messi was the man on the spot, as he slotted home this rebound:

Algeria keeper Luca Zidane — yes, the son of French legend Zinedine Zidane — stopped an initial attempt from Alexis Mac Allister, but Messi slotted home the loose ball to stake Argentina to a 2-0 lead, and score his second goal of the game.

Here is another look at Messi’s second goal against Algeria:

Messi had a chance at the hat trick a few minutes later, but Zidane managed to turn this shot aside:

But Zidane would not stop this attempt, as the legend secured his hat trick:

The third goal came off the left foot of Messi, as he gathered in a pass from Nico González, settled the ball at his feet, and then launched a rocket by Zidane for his third of the night, and the 16th World Cup of his incredible career.

Argentina secured a 3-0 win, thanks to Messi’s hat trick, and both player and team are off to a roaring start at the 2026 World Cup.

#Lionel #Messis #hat #trick #Algeria #ties #Miroslav #Klose #alltime #World #Cup #goals">Lionel Messi’s hat trick against Algeria ties Miroslav Klose for all-time World Cup goals

Lionel Messi’s first match at the 2026 World Cup was one for the record books.

The living legend scored a hat trick against Algeria as Argentina began its defense of the 2022 World Cup win, and with his third goal, he pulled level with Miroslav Klose atop the list of all-time goal scorers in World Cup history with 16.

Messi looked to open his 2026 World Cup account in the early minutes against Algeria, but the goal was waved off by the officials for offside.

Messi launched a left-footed rocket from outside the box, putting Argentina on the board in the 17th minute.

Here is another look at the first goal:

Then in the 60th minute, Messi was the man on the spot, as he slotted home this rebound:

Algeria keeper Luca Zidane — yes, the son of French legend Zinedine Zidane — stopped an initial attempt from Alexis Mac Allister, but Messi slotted home the loose ball to stake Argentina to a 2-0 lead, and score his second goal of the game.

Here is another look at Messi’s second goal against Algeria:

Messi had a chance at the hat trick a few minutes later, but Zidane managed to turn this shot aside:

But Zidane would not stop this attempt, as the legend secured his hat trick:

The third goal came off the left foot of Messi, as he gathered in a pass from Nico González, settled the ball at his feet, and then launched a rocket by Zidane for his third of the night, and the 16th World Cup of his incredible career.

Argentina secured a 3-0 win, thanks to Messi’s hat trick, and both player and team are off to a roaring start at the 2026 World Cup.

#Lionel #Messis #hat #trick #Algeria #ties #Miroslav #Klose #alltime #World #Cup #goals

Lionel Messi is making his 200th international appearance during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match against Algeria. | Photo Credit: AP

Welcome to Sportstar’s live coverage of the Argentina vs Algeria FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match being played at Kansas City Stadium.

Only twice has a country defended its World Cup title: Italy in 1938 and Brazil in 1962, and Argentina will be looking to become the third under the guidance of manager Lionel Scaloni.

#Argentina #Algeria #LIVE #score #FIFA #World #Cup #ARG #ALG #Messi #history #player #feature #editions">Argentina vs Algeria LIVE score, FIFA World Cup 2026: ARG 0-0 ALG; Messi makes history as first player to feature in six editions Lionel Messi is making his 200th international appearance during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match against Algeria. | Photo Credit: AP Lionel Messi is making his 200th international appearance during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match against Algeria. | Photo Credit: AP Welcome to Sportstar’s live coverage of the Argentina vs Algeria FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match being played at Kansas City Stadium.Only twice has a country defended its World Cup title: Italy in 1938 and Brazil in 1962, and Argentina will be looking to become the third under the guidance of manager Lionel Scaloni. #Argentina #Algeria #LIVE #score #FIFA #World #Cup #ARG #ALG #Messi #history #player #feature #editions

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