Gianni Infantino defends World Cup 2026 amid criticism
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has issued a strong defence of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, accusing critics of focusing on controversy while overlooking what he described as a tournament that united millions of people around the world. In an open letter published on Monday and shared on his personal social media accounts as well as FIFA’s official platforms, Infantino responded to criticism surrounding the tournament, which was jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico and won by Spain.
The FIFA chief argued that many detractors ignored the positive impact of the competition and instead concentrated on negative narratives. He praised the atmosphere created by fans and highlighted football’s ability to bring people together across generations.
Addressing critics directly, Infantino wrote, “To all of you who missed watching kids, babies, grandparents, and parents come together for the beautiful game, I say sorry that the matches are now over and sorry that you missed all that joy and togetherness.” He continued, “Sorry that you were so consumed by hate and criticism that you missed it all.”
The 56-year-old also appeared to criticise journalists and commentators, claiming that while FIFA had worked tirelessly to organise a successful tournament, others had focused on spreading misinformation. “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,” he wrote.
Infantino pointed to what he described as the tournament’s outstanding security record. According to the FIFA president, nearly seven million spectators from more than 200 countries attended matches throughout the competition. “We experienced no violence, no incidents, 100% safety and security, only joy and happiness,” he said.
Despite the successful attendance figures, the tournament faced criticism over travel and visa restrictions affecting supporters and officials from several participating nations, including Iran, Haiti, Senegal and Ivory Coast. Somali referee Omar Artan was also reportedly denied entry to the United States after not receiving a visa. Responding to those concerns, Infantino said, “You mentioned the few people denied visas and overlooked the millions who were approved, from all parts of the world. Because football unites the world, and it was demonstrated impressively this summer.”
The FIFA president also addressed debates over refereeing decisions, player suspensions and disciplinary rulings during the tournament. He argued that controversial officiating is common across football and questioned why FIFA had received such intense scrutiny. “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,” he said, adding, “It’s curious that the same countries employing these practices are the ones criticising.”
Concluding his message, Infantino urged critics to focus on football’s ability to unite people rather than dwell on controversy. “To those spending their time and energy hating us, please take a moment to reflect, meditate, pray, or watch a football match and truly observe the faces, the eyes, the emotions,” he wrote, ending with the message, “May football rise above all hate.”
