Iranian FA (FFIRI) chief, Mehdi Taj, has demanded that FIFA ensure that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is not insulted by the United States before the national team can travel to the country for the World Cup in June. This follows a delegation from the Iranian Football Association (FFI) who turned back from the Canadian border due to what they claimed was disrespectful treatment by immigration officials. The IRGC, whose purpose is to protect Shi’ite Muslim clerical rule in Iran, was listed as a "terrorist entity" by Canada in 2000. FIFA Secretary-General Mattias Grafstrom has invited FFIRI to Zurich for a meeting about their World Cup preparations.