Infantino tells critics to chill as World Cup controversies pile up
Gianni Infantino used a pre-World Cup news conference to downplay a series of visa and pricing controversies, urging critics to “chill” while leaning on security and sovereign border control as FIFA’s main defence.
Gianni Infantino faced questions on visas, ticket pricing and tournament control at a news conference on the eve of the FIFA World Cup 2026, and repeatedly played down issues that have dominated the build-up.The FIFA president spoke at the Estadio Azteca before the opening match between Mexico and South Africa, with FIFA under pressure after a run of incidents involving supporters, teams and officials entering the United States.Infantino commented: “Maybe sometimes it’s good as well to just, you know, chill, relax.”The remark landed hours after Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the US following an extended interrogation at Miami International Airport, ending what should have been a career-defining tournament appointment.Infantino described the case as “unfortunate” and stressed FIFA’s limited influence over border decisions, even when those decisions affect on-field operations.Infantino also pushed back on expectations that FIFA should be able to override state authorities, offering a broad justification rooted in security and sovereignty.He stated: “It is unfortunate what happened to the referee from Somalia. But again, we don’t control everything. We need to respect that we are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces.”The same line of defence was deployed across other travel issues, including disruptions affecting delegations and fans, and Iran’s forced switch of base to Mexico despite qualification for matches in the US.Infantino claimed credit for Iran’s participation, presenting their presence as the outcome of FIFA intervention rather than a problem demanding public confrontation.He remarked: “When people were saying it would be impossible for Iran to come to the World Cup, I promised them that they would come.“I don’t know who else would have been able to ensure in these circumstances, which we could not influence, Iran could come and play.”Ticketing was another flashpoint, with FIFA facing investigations by multiple US state attorneys general into pricing practices and consumer complaints.Infantino insisted FIFA’s approach has been checked thoroughly and defended it as aligned with the local market.He insisted: “We check what we do with the best lawyers, with the best experts.”He also dismissed the legal scrutiny as minimal, characterising the cases as driven by a small number of complaints rather than systemic issues.Infantino argued the pricing model is necessary to support FIFA’s redistribution mission, positioning revenue extraction as a core function of the tournament cycle.He also delivered a robust defence of US President Donald Trump and implied the tournament’s delivery depended on the administration’s political engagement.Infantino stated: “Without his engagement and his involvement, I think it would have been impossible to organise a World Cup in the United States.”The tone, and the lack of direct empathy for affected individuals, will be read by critics as a sign FIFA is prioritising relationship management with host governments over public accountability.The sequence of controversies has included visa disruptions for tournament personnel, reported questioning of players at US airports, shifting arrangements for Iran’s travel and base, and ongoing criticism of ticket pricing.The opening match at the Azteca marks the start of a 48-team tournament spanning 104 matches across Canada, Mexico and the United States.