FIFA’s Infantino issues letter, accuses World Cup critics of spreading hate

FIFA faced disapproval implicit respective issues during the tournament, including a statement implicit US visa restrictions for teams.

International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) President Gianni Infantino has deed backmost astatine critics of the 2026 World Cup, accusing them of spreading hatred and mendacious narratives portion defending the tourney arsenic a occurrence that celebrated ⁠”happiness, unity, information and togetherness”.

In an open missive published connected Instagram connected Monday, Infantino, 56, said detractors had overlooked the joyousness and togetherness experienced by millions of fans astir the satellite who witnessed the tournament, won by Spain and staged crossed ⁠the United States, Canada and Mexico.

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“You were truthful consumed by hatred and disapproval that you missed it all,” helium said.

“To those down their pens and papers, down their screens spreading hatred and mendacious rumours, I privation to accidental that portion you are sitting behind, we astatine FIFA are connected the beforehand lines organising, moving hard, and delivering the champion amusement successful ‌the world.

“We experienced nary violence, nary incidents, 100% information and security, lone joyousness and happiness!”

Infantino’s comments came little than a week aft FIFA said it was investigating an on-pitch altercation betwixt Argentina and Spain players astatine the extremity of their World Cup last successful New Jersey.

Spain players observe winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup [Dan Mullan/Getty Images/AFP]

FIFA faced disapproval implicit a bid of issues during the tournament, including statement implicit US visa restrictions affecting supporters and officials from respective countries and concerns involving teams from conflict-hit regions, specified arsenic Iran.

Iran, who were knocked retired successful the radical stage, had a turbulent experience, forced to determination their grooming campy basal from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico owed to the warfare successful the Middle East. They besides faced logistical issues travelling backmost and distant to the United States for their 3 ⁠group matches.

Infantino’s missive besides followed scrutiny of FIFA’s handling of the Folarin Balogun’s disciplinary case, a determination to suspend the automatic one-match prohibition imposed connected the US striker aft his reddish paper against Bosnia and Herzegovina, pursuing the intervention of US President Donald Trump.

Officiating decisions successful Argentina’s lucifer against Egypt ⁠also generated wide statement among fans and pundits.

Though Infantino did not notation to circumstantial ⁠cases, helium argued that galore of the refereeing and disciplinary decisions criticised during the tourney were commonplace successful assorted competitions worldwide.

“Potentially mistaken reddish oregon yellowish cards oregon consequent decisions not to prohibition players successful definite situations are regular and wide accepted successful immoderate of the biggest ⁠leagues worldwide,” helium added.

“It’s funny that the aforesaid countries employing these practices are the ones criticising.”

Infantino, left, with US President Donald Trump astatine the 2026 World Cup last betwixt Spain and Argentina astatine the New York/New Jersey Stadium successful East Rutherford, US, connected July 19, 2026 [Odd Andersen/AFP]

Visa controversies

Infantino pointed to the information of countries facing governmental tensions, home situation and ⁠domestic wellness challenges arsenic grounds of football’s quality to transcend divisions.

While Iran’s ⁠participation came against the backdrop of conflict with the US, issues surrounding Haiti’s home situation and the Ebola outbreak successful the Democratic Republic of the Congo besides drew attraction to visa and question restrictions.

Somali World Cup referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was barred from entering the US contempt having a ‌valid visa.

“You mentioned the fewer radical denied visas and overlooked the millions who were approved, from each parts of the world. Because shot unites the world, and it was impressively demonstrated this summer,” helium said.

“Iran entered the United States without incidental oregon conflict. The Iranian squad received visas to participate due to the fact that shot is astir peace. It’s not astir politics.”

Infantino’s comments were successful stark opposition to Iran caput manager Amir Ghalenoei’s remarks, which described Team Melli arsenic the “most oppressed” squad astatine the World Cup.

“Countries facing superior wellness issues oregon different challenges were granted visas,” Infantino added.

“When ‌football ‌brought Haiti to the world, a state that galore cannot oregon take not to visit, it mightiness beryllium clip to acceptable speech your pens and keyboards and amusement immoderate respect to the teams that played.”

Earlier this month, quality rights radical FairSquare lodged a ailment to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) against Infantino, alleging that helium “repeatedly breached the IOC’s rules connected governmental neutrality by offering his governmental enactment for US President Donald Trump”.

But the IOC rejected it, saying ⁠⁠the substance fell extracurricular the jurisdiction of its Ethics Commission.