FIFA President Gianni Infantino has launched a robust defence of football’s governing body following weeks of criticism surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting the tournament was successfully delivered despite widespread concerns over visa restrictions, ticket prices, officiating and geopolitical tensions.
In an open letter published on Monday across FIFA’s official platforms and his Instagram account, Infantino accused critics of focusing on negativity instead of acknowledging what he described as a historic tournament that united nations and fans from across the world.
“Sorry that you were so consumed by hate and criticism that you missed it all,” Infantino wrote.
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Addressing journalists and commentators who scrutinised FIFA’s handling of the competition, he added, “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 maintained that the month-long competition across the United States, Canada and Mexico was conducted without major security incidents.
“We experienced no violence, no incidents, 100% safety and security, only joy and happiness,” the FIFA president stated.
The expanded 48-team tournament faced intense scrutiny even before kickoff. Concerns ranged from soaring accommodation and ticket costs to fears over extreme summer temperatures across several host cities. Human rights advocates and football stakeholders also questioned visa policies that affected supporters and tournament officials from several countries.
One of the most widely discussed cases involved Somali referee Omar Artan, who was reportedly denied entry into the United States under immigration measures that drew international attention. Questions were also raised over travel arrangements involving Iran amid ongoing regional tensions, while global health concerns, including the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, further complicated tournament logistics.
Infantino insisted FIFA worked closely with governments to ensure football remained above politics.
“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 also argued that critics ignored the millions of successful visa approvals while highlighting only isolated cases.
“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,” he added.
The FIFA president also rejected criticism over refereeing and disciplinary decisions following controversy surrounding United States striker Folarin Balogun. Reports indicated that US President Donald Trump had personally asked Infantino to review Balogun’s one-match suspension, allowing the forward to feature in the Round of 16 clash against Belgium. UEFA later criticised the development, describing it as “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.”
Responding to those concerns, Infantino argued that disputed refereeing calls and disciplinary reviews are common across elite football.
“Arguable referees’ decisions or strange disciplinary rulings are routine and widely accepted in some of the biggest leagues worldwide,” he wrote, suggesting some of FIFA’s strongest critics routinely accept similar situations in domestic competitions.
His remarks contrasted with those of Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei, who described his team as the tournament’s “most oppressed,” while striker Mehdi Taremi labelled their experience a “disaster.”
Despite the controversies, FIFA has maintained that the expanded World Cup achieved record global engagement and showcased football’s ability to bridge political and cultural divides, even as debates over governance, transparency and tournament administration continue beyond the final whistle.
