Gianni Infantino Defends FIFA World Cup, Accuses Critics of Spreading ‘Hate’

Posted : 27 July 2026

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has launched a robust defence of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, accusing critics of focusing on negativity instead of recognising what he described as a safe and successful tournament. In an open letter published on Monday, Infantino claimed detractors had been "spreading hate and false rumours" while overlooking the positive experiences of millions of supporters.

The FIFA chief urged critics to "take a moment to reflect, meditate and pray," arguing that they had become so consumed by criticism that they failed to appreciate the unity and excitement generated throughout the competition. According to Infantino, the tournament was conducted without major security incidents and delivered joy to fans across the three host nations — the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The World Cup had faced intense scrutiny before and during the competition over issues including expensive ticket prices, visa restrictions, geopolitical tensions and concerns about extreme summer temperatures. Questions were also raised over the participation of nations affected by conflict or health emergencies, while several individuals encountered travel and immigration challenges.

Infantino defended FIFA's handling of those sensitive matters, insisting football had served as a bridge rather than a source of division. He pointed to Iran's participation as evidence that sport could unite people despite political tensions, adding that visas had been granted to teams and participants from countries facing conflict or health crises because football should remain separate from politics. He also argued that critics had focused on a handful of rejected visa applications while ignoring the millions that were successfully approved.

His comments contrasted with the views expressed by members of Iran's national team during the tournament. Head coach Amir Ghalenoei described his squad as the "most oppressed" team at the World Cup, while striker Mehdi Taremi labelled their overall treatment a "disaster."

Infantino also addressed controversy surrounding disciplinary decisions and refereeing. One of the most debated moments came when the suspension of United States forward Folarin Balogun was lifted after US President Donald Trump reportedly asked FIFA to review the case, allowing the striker to feature in the round-of-16 match against Belgium. The decision drew criticism from UEFA, which described the intervention as unprecedented and inappropriate.

Responding to those concerns, Infantino maintained that disputed refereeing calls and disciplinary rulings are common across leading football competitions worldwide. He argued that critics were applying a different standard to FIFA despite similar situations occurring regularly in domestic leagues and suggested that some of the strongest criticism had come from countries where such practices are already accepted.

Gianni Infantino Defends FIFA World Cup, Accuses Critics of Spreading ‘Hate’

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