Canada Denies Visas to Palestinian Football Officials for FIFA Congress

Canadian immigration authorities have denied entry visas to Jibril Rajoub, President of the Palestine Football Association (PFA) and two other senior officials ahead of the annual FIFA Congress. The event is scheduled to take place in Vancouver on April 30.

Canada is co-hosting the 2026 World Cup alongside the US and Mexico. The PFA has officially requested FIFA’s intervention to resolve the matter.

Rajoub was reportedly prepared to address the Congress regarding Israeli football clubs playing matches in the occupied West Bank a practice the United Nations deems illegal.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) declined to comment on the specific cases, stating only that applications are assessed individually.

The denials come amid heightening concerns over travel barriers in North America. While Canada and the US share intelligence, the US has recently implemented stricter vetting, including social media inspections.

The Trump administration has also faced criticism after recent ICE enforcement actions at football stadiums, raising questions about the safety of international fans and officials during the upcoming World Cup.