Visa concerns ahead of IHF Congress could impact presidential election

As the IHF Congress approaches in Egypt, unconfirmed reports suggest that representatives from several member federations may face visa difficulties. If true, this could affect attendance, and potentially the outcome, of the presidential election.

With the IHF Congress 2025 set to take place in Cairo, Egypt, where a new president is to be elected, questions are being raised behind the scenes about whether all member federations will be able to attend on equal terms.

According to multiple unconfirmed sources, representatives from certain countries are reportedly experiencing difficulties in obtaining visas to enter Egypt. No official statement has been made by the IHF or Egyptian authorities, and no federation has publicly confirmed being denied entry. Still, the concerns persist – and they matter.

Why visa access matters in a presidential election

The IHF Congress is the federation’s highest decision-making body. Every member federation has one vote. In a tightly contested presidential election, who is present in the room matters.

If some federations are unable to attend due to visa issues – regardless of intent or responsibility – the legitimacy and balance of the voting process risk being questioned. This is especially sensitive given that the current IHF president, Hassan Moustafa, is Egyptian and seeking continued influence at a congress hosted in his home country.

There is, however, no evidence that visas are being deliberately withheld, nor that any country is being targeted for political reasons. At this stage, all claims remain allegations and background information, not confirmed facts.

Egypt’s visa policy: a well-documented structural issue

What is documented, however, is that Egypt has a historically restrictive visa regime for certain nationalities. This is not specific to handball or the IHF, but part of longstanding immigration and security policy.

Based on long-standing visa practice, the following countries are considered high risk when it comes to obtaining entry to Egypt:

Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Libya, Mali, Niger, North Korea, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Yemen.

According to the IHF none of these member nations are considered non-active, which means that the rest of the named nations have one vote each during the congress. Eritrea, Israel, and North Korea however are no longer a member nations according to the IHF website.

For delegates from these nations, visa approval is far from guaranteed, even with official invitations.

Medium-risk countries: conditional and uncertain access

There is also a second group of countries where visa access is possible but uncertain, often dependent on additional documentation, guarantees or organised travel arrangements.

Medium-risk (extra documentation often required):
Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam.

In some cases, citizens from these countries may only receive visas if they are part of an organised delegation, provide a “guarantee letter”, or already hold valid US, UK or Schengen visas.

Myanmar however are no longer a member nation according to the IHF website.

Low-risk countries: standard access

For the remaining IHF member federations – primarily from Europe, the Americas and parts of Asia-Pacific – entry to Egypt is generally considered low risk, with access to e-visas or visa-on-arrival and minimal likelihood of problems.

Allegations of selective assistance – and why transparency matters

Several anonymous sources claim to GoHandball that the IHF have actively assisted certain federations with visa processes. Such assistance is not unusual in international sport.

What raises eyebrows this time is the lack of transparency. Allegedly, not all federations may be receiving the same level of support. Some observers quietly ask whether federations perceived as politically important – or expected to support the incumbent president – are being prioritised.

Again, there is no proof that this is happening, and no federation has gone on record to confirm it. But in a climate where trust in governance is already fragile, even the perception of unequal treatment can be damaging.

A question the IHF cannot ignore

If the IHF Congress is to maintain credibility, it must ensure that all member federations have a genuine and equal opportunity to attend and vote.

That may require clearer communication, transparency around visa assistance, and – ideally – public confirmation that no federation is being excluded, intentionally or otherwise. Until then, the unanswered questions remain. And in an election year, unanswered questions tend to grow louder.

Are you as a representative denied visa to Egypt and want to share your experience? Send an email to ola.selby@handbollskanalen.se.