Infantino defends 2026 World Cup, hails sporting and human success

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has broken his silence for the first time since the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup, defending the tournament hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and insisting it was a major success both on the field and in terms of human impact, despite criticism of its organization.

In a lengthy message posted on his official Instagram account, Infantino shared his assessment of the tournament, describing it as a model for uniting people through football. He said, "The World Cup celebrated humanity in the best possible way," adding that everyone who attended was "safe and happy."

The FIFA President explained that cooperation between the United States, Canada, and Mexico contributed to a successful tournament, noting that the three countries worked tirelessly to ensure the global event's success. He also praised the participation of the Iranian national team, highlighting that Iran's entry into the United States occurred without incident or conflict, reflecting football's ability to bridge divides and bring people together.

Media criticism and response to organizational controversy

Infantino's message also included a direct response to criticism aimed at FIFA and the organizing committee, particularly from some media outlets and journalists. He accused certain members of the media of "spreading hatred and false rumors" by focusing on negatives and ignoring the tournament's positive aspects.

He added that media coverage centered on the small number of people whose visas were denied, while overlooking the millions who successfully obtained visas to attend the tournament, arguing that the smooth entry of the vast majority of fans did not receive enough attention.

The FIFA President also defended refereeing and disciplinary decisions that sparked debate during the tournament, stressing that such incidents are not unusual in global football and that similar situations are accepted in some of the world's top leagues.

Controversial issues Infantino did not address

Despite his extensive defense of the tournament, Infantino did not address several widely debated issues, such as the Haitian team's request to change its kit before participating, or the difficulties some teams and fans faced in obtaining visas to enter the United States.

He also did not mention the case of Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the United States despite being assigned to officiate matches, nor the controversy over certain disciplinary decisions and criticism of high ticket prices.

Infantino's message reflects FIFA's commitment to its positive evaluation of the 2026 World Cup, even as debate continues over organizational and political matters. While FIFA maintains that the tournament fulfilled its sporting and humanitarian mission, critics continue to call for greater transparency regarding some procedures and decisions.