# Mehdi Taj

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Sport administrator of Iran

Mehdi Taj مهدی تاج Taj in 2019 President of Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran Incumbent Assumed office 30 August 2022 Preceded by Mirshad Majedi (acting) In office 7 May 2016 – 29 December 2019 Preceded by Ali Kafashian Succeeded by Heydar Baharvand (acting) President of Iran Football League Organization In office 28 October 2013 – 7 May 2016 Acting: 14 January – 28 October 2013 Preceded by Gholamreza Behravan Succeeded by Ali Kazemi (acting) Personal details Born (1960-01-20) January 20, 1960 (age 66)[1] Isfahan, Iran Alma mater University of Isfahan[citation needed]

**Mehdi Taj** ([Persian](/source/Persian_language): مهدی تاج) is an [Iranian](/source/Iranian_peoples) sports executive who is the president of [Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran](/source/Football_Federation_Islamic_Republic_of_Iran) (FFIRI) since August 2022, serving his second and third terms. Since 2019, he has also served as one of five vice presidents of the [Asian Football Confederation](/source/Asian_Football_Confederation) (AFC). He has a history of serving in the [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps](/source/Islamic_Revolutionary_Guard_Corps) (IRGC).

His first term as president of FFIRI was from 2016 until 2019. In May 2020, he was appointed a member of the AFC Emergency Committee.[2]

He was previously First Vice President of FFIRI (2008–2012), President of the [Iran Football League Organization](/source/Iran_Football_League_Organization) (2013–2016), Secretary of the Board of [Sepahan](/source/Sepahan_F.C.) (1992–1994, 2002–2006) and president of the club (1994–1999), and Board Chairman of the Foolad Metil.[3] He was also editor-in-chief of [*Jahan Varzesh*](/source/Abrar-e_Varzeshi) from 1991 until 2001. On 7 May 2016, he was elected as president of FFIRI with 51 votes, succeeding [Ali Kafashian](/source/Ali_Kafashian).[4][5] He resigned in December 2019 due to heart problems.[2]

On 30 August 2022, Taj was elected as new president of FFIRI for a two-year term. Taj won the three-candidate race with 51 votes.[6]

In April 2026, Taj was turned away by Canadian authorities while en route to the 2026 [FIFA Congress](/source/FIFA_Congress) in Vancouver due to his ties to the [IRGC](/source/Islamic_Revolutionary_Guard_Corps).[7][8]

## Women's football in Iran

Taj has visited the training camp of the [Iranian women's national football team](/source/Iran_women's_national_football_team). He also said that all Iranian clubs should try to start a women's section.[9] However, in the economic sector, the serious problems of [Iranian women's football](/source/Women's_football_in_Iran) remained as before.[10]

Taj watched the [2023 Women's World Cup final](/source/2023_FIFA_Women's_World_Cup_final).[11]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["زندگینامه: مهدی تاج (۱۳۳۸ - )"](https://www.hamshahrionline.ir/details/333049/Sport/soccer). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20241007121914/https://www.hamshahrionline.ir/news/333049/%D8%B2%D9%86%D8%AF%DA%AF%DB%8C%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%87-%D9%85%D9%87%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%AC-%DB%B1%DB%B3%DB%B3%DB%B8) from the original on 2024-10-07. Retrieved 2016-05-07.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_2-1) ["Mehdi Taj becomes member of AFC Emergency Committee"](https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/447989/Mehdi-Taj-becomes-member-of-AFC-Emergency-Committee). *Tehran Times*. Retrieved 19 May 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["محمد ترابیان نهمین مدیر عامل تاریخ سپاهان"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160730235718/http://www.imna.ir/fa/doc/news/119685/%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF-%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A8%DB%8C%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%86%D9%87%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%AF%DB%8C%D8%B1-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%84-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%AE-%D8%B3%D9%BE%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%86). Archived from [the original](http://www.imna.ir/fa/doc/news/119685/%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF-%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A8%DB%8C%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%86%D9%87%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%AF%DB%8C%D8%B1-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%84-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%AE-%D8%B3%D9%BE%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%86) on 2016-07-30. Retrieved 2016-05-07.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["۴ کاندیدای ریاست فدراسیون فوتبال فرم گرفتند/ تردید کفاشیان و تاج برای ثبت نام قطعی"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170510074109/http://90tv.ir/news/224404/%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%AF%DB%8C%D8%AF-%DA%A9%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B4%DB%8C%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%88-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%AC-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%AB%D8%A8%D8%AA-%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%85-%D9%82%D8%B7%D8%B9%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%81%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%81%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84). Archived from [the original](http://90tv.ir/news/224404/%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%AF%DB%8C%D8%AF-%DA%A9%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B4%DB%8C%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%88-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%AC-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%AB%D8%A8%D8%AA-%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%85-%D9%82%D8%B7%D8%B9%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%81%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%81%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84) on 2017-05-10. Retrieved 2016-05-07.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["مهدی تاج رئیس فدراسیون فوتبال شد"](https://www.varzesh3.com/news/1323536/%D9%85%D9%87%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%AC-%D8%B1%D8%A6%DB%8C%D8%B3-%D9%81%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%81%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%B4%D8%AF). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20241007121908/https://www.varzesh3.com/news/1323536/%D9%85%D9%87%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%AC-%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%94%DB%8C%D8%B3-%D9%81%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%81%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%B4%D8%AF) from the original on 2024-10-07. Retrieved 2016-05-07.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Mehdi Taj elected as head of Iran football federation"](https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/476220). *[Tehran Times](/source/Tehran_Times)*. 2022-08-30. Retrieved 2022-09-09.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7242702/2026/04/30/iran-fifa-congress-canada-world-cup-mehdi-taj/](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7242702/2026/04/30/iran-fifa-congress-canada-world-cup-mehdi-taj/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [https://www.iranintl.com/en/202604294039](https://www.iranintl.com/en/202604294039)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["تاج: همه باشگاه‌ها باید تیم زنان داشته باشند"](https://www.varzesh3.com/news/2025996/%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%AC-%D9%87%D9%85%D9%87-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B4%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%87-%D9%87%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D8%AA%DB%8C%D9%85-%D8%B2%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%AA%D9%87-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B4%D9%86%D8%AF). *ورزش سه* (in Persian). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20241007122010/https://www.varzesh3.com/news/2025996/%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%AC-%D9%87%D9%85%D9%87-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B4%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%87-%D9%87%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D8%AA%DB%8C%D9%85-%D8%B2%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%AA%D9%87-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B4%D9%86%D8%AF) from the original on 2024-10-07. Retrieved 2024-06-17.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["چرا توسعه فوتبال زنان در ایران با مشکل روبروست؟ - دارايان - داشته های اقتصادی ایران"](https://www.daraian.com/fa/news/22486). *www.daraian.com* (in Persian). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240617000906/https://www.daraian.com/fa/news/22486) from the original on 2024-06-17. Retrieved 2024-06-17.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["مهدی تاج تماشاگر ویژه فینال جام جهانی زنان"](https://www.varzesh3.com/news/1959038/%D9%85%D9%87%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%AC-%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%A7%DA%AF%D8%B1-%D9%88%DB%8C%DA%98%D9%87-%D9%81%DB%8C%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%AC%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C-%D8%B2%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86). *ورزش سه* (in Persian). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20241007121907/https://www.varzesh3.com/news/1959038/%D9%85%D9%87%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%AC-%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%A7%DA%AF%D8%B1-%D9%88%DB%8C%DA%98%D9%87-%D9%81%DB%8C%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%AC%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C-%D8%B2%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86) from the original on 2024-10-07. Retrieved 2024-06-16.

## External links

- [About Taj](https://www.varzesh3.com/news/1323549/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mehdi Taj](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mehdi_Taj) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mehdi_Taj?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.