Canada Soccer is paying Iran's team $400K to play in Vancouver, team official says

Canada Soccer is paying Iran's soccer federation $400,000 to play a controversial exhibition game next month in Vancouver, according to the head of Iran's national team.

The team's director, Hamed Estili, told Iranian state-affiliated media outlet Tasnim that for the first time in 22 years, Iran's soccer federation will make a profit off a friendly match.

Canada Soccer did not answer CBC's questions about the quoted sum or where the money is coming from. The organization said it's normal practice to pay teams for matches like this.

"As is the standard in international soccer, match appearance fees are generally provided to the visiting team to cover expenses that may not be included within the agreement, such as international and or domestic travel, ground costs and insurance," said Canada Soccer in a statement issued to CBC News.

Estili told Iranian media that after it pays for the team's expenses, Iran's soccer federation could bank $200,000 of the payment.

Estili said Iran negotiated with more than 20 other lower-ranked teams to try to arrange exhibition matches — and they all said Iran's soccer federation would have to pay them a fee in order to play.

His comments come as Canada Soccer comes under heavy pressure to call off the nearly sold-out June 5 match at BC Place.

Victims who lost loved ones on Flight PS752 have called the game a slap in the face. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) shot down Flight PS752 in 2020 shortly after takeoff in Tehran. Surface-to-air missiles took down the Ukrainian aircraft, killing everyone onboard — including 85 Canadians and permanent residents. 

Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart has condemned the game and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said he disagrees with the