Gianni Infantino urged World Cup critics to focus on the game, as Fifa faces questions over security, visas, officiating and conduct at the tournament.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino has used a lengthy Instagram post to defend the World Cup and tell his critics to meditate, pray or watch a football match instead of, in his words, spreading hate and false rumours. The Fifa chief aimed his remarks at people he said were attacking his leadership, the governing body and the tournament.
In the post, which ran to 15 slides and was also shared with Fifa’s eight million followers, Infantino said critics behind their pens, papers and screens were planting seeds of hate while Fifa was delivering what he called the greatest event on earth. He described the World Cup as a celebration of humanity at its best and said the 2026 tournament had 100% safety and security, with only joy and happiness.
Infantino also highlighted Iran’s participation as a success, saying Fifa worked tirelessly to unite two countries at war and that Iran entered the country without incident or conflict. That view sharply contrasts with comments from Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei, who said his team were the most oppressed at the World Cup. The Iranian team faced visa delays, some backroom staff were denied entry to the US, fans had ticket allocations revoked, and the squad moved its training base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico after a series of logistical problems. The team later dealt with movement restrictions while travelling to matches in Los Angeles and Seattle.
“Gianni Infantino urged World Cup critics to focus on the game, as Fifa faces questions over security, visas, officiating and conduct at the tournament.”
Those problems were not limited to Iran. Fans from Haiti, Senegal and Ivory Coast were affected by travel bans imposed by the Trump administration, and Somali referee Omar Artan was refused entry to the US despite holding a diplomatic passport and a single-entry US visa. Officials said the refusal was linked to his association with suspected members of terror organisations. Infantino said the few people denied visas were being overemphasized, while millions of others were approved from around the world because football unites the world.
He also insisted there had been zero incidents and zero violence at the tournament, but Fifa is still investigating Argentina’s conduct after players and backroom staff were involved in altercations with Spain’s players following the final. The governing body is also looking into allegations of racist abuse directed at American social media influencer IShowSpeed, while supporters were arrested at several matches, including after England’s semi-final against Argentina in Atlanta. ICE officials were also present at World Cup stadiums, drawing attention of their own.
Infantino addressed complaints about officiating as well, especially criticism over what some viewed as political interference after USA forward Folarin Balogun was allowed to play in the last-16 match when his one-match ban was suspended by Fifa following intervention from President Donald Trump. Uefa said the decision crossed a red line and was unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable, while the Norwegian Football Federation is considering a formal complaint to Fifa’s ethics committee. The International Olympic Committee said it would not investigate Infantino over any breach of political neutrality, saying a complaint from the human rights group FairSquare was outside its ethics jurisdiction. The broader dispute now shows how the World Cup can still stir debate far beyond the pitch.
Frequently asked questions
What did Gianni Infantino say to critics of the World Cup?
He told critics to meditate, pray or watch a football match instead of spreading hate and false rumours. He said they were attacking his leadership, Fifa and the tournament.
How did Infantino describe security at the 2026 World Cup?
He said the tournament had 100% safety and security, with only joy and happiness. He also called the World Cup the greatest event on earth.
What problems did Iran face at the tournament?
Iran had visa delays, some staff were denied entry to the US, fans had ticket allocations revoked, and the team moved its training base from Tucson to Tijuana. It also faced movement restrictions on trips to matches in Los Angeles and Seattle.
What other issues is Fifa dealing with from the tournament?
Fifa is investigating Argentina’s conduct after post-final altercations with Spain’s players and allegations of racist abuse directed at IShowSpeed. Supporters were also arrested at several matches, and officials were present at stadiums.
We value your privacy 🍪We use cookies for essential features and, if you allow it, to send you a notification whenever we publish a new story. See our Privacy Policy.
📨
Never Miss a Story
Get the headlines that matter delivered straight to your inbox.
📱 On iPhone: tap the Share icon, choose “Add to Home Screen”, then open TheTrueDefender from your Home Screen and tap 🔔 to turn on notifications. (Apple only allows notifications for saved web apps.)
📱 Add TheTrueDefender to your home screen for one-tap access.
