FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended the organisation’s handling of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, dismissing critics as people “spreading hate and false rumours” while insisting the tournament delivered “only joy and happiness.”
In an open letter published on Monday and shared via his Instagram account and FIFA’s official platforms, Infantino urged those who criticised the tournament to “take a moment to reflect, meditate, pray,” saying they had allowed negativity to overshadow what he described as a successful competition.
“Sorry that you were so consumed by hate and criticism that you missed it all,” he wrote.
“To those behind their pens and papers, behind their screens, spreading hate and false rumours, I want to say that while you are sitting behind, we at FIFA are on the front lines organising, working hard, and delivering the best show in the world.
“We experienced no violence, no incidents, 100% safety and security, only joy and happiness!”
The tournament, jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, was overshadowed before kickoff by concerns over expensive ticket prices, visa restrictions, geopolitical tensions and the impact of extreme summer temperatures across the three host nations.
Iran’s participation amid tensions with the United States, alongside concerns over Haiti’s domestic crisis and the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, also sparked debate over travel and visa policies.
Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry into the United States under President Donald Trump’s immigration policy, becoming one of the most notable cases linked to visa restrictions during the tournament.
Responding to the criticism, Infantino maintained that FIFA had successfully managed the challenges.
“While you spread hatred, we worked tirelessly to unite two countries at war. Iran entered the United States without incident or conflict,” he said.
“The Iranian team received visas to enter because football is about peace. It’s not about politics.”
He added, “Countries facing serious health issues or other challenges were granted visas.
“You mentioned the few people denied visas and overlooked the millions who were approved, from all parts of the world.”
However, his remarks contrasted with comments from Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei, who described his side as the “most oppressed” team at the World Cup, while striker Mehdi Taremi labelled the team’s treatment during the tournament “a disaster.”
Infantino also defended FIFA over criticism of officiating and disciplinary decisions after reports that President Trump personally appealed for a review of a one-match suspension imposed on United States striker Folarin Balogun, allowing him to feature against Belgium in the round of 16.
The decision drew criticism from UEFA, which described the intervention as “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable” and said it had “crossed a red line.”
Addressing the controversy, Infantino argued that disputed refereeing and disciplinary decisions are common across top football competitions.
“Your dissatisfaction with a few decisions made by the competent authorities is understandable, but please refer to public records: such decisions are common in some of the most important leagues,” he said.
“Indeed, ‘arguable’ referees’ decisions or ‘strange’ disciplinary rulings such as, for instance, potentially mistaken red or yellow cards or subsequent decisions not to ban players in certain situations are routine and widely accepted in some of the biggest leagues worldwide.
“It’s curious that the same countries employing these practices are the ones criticising.”
