Infantino defended the World Cup with 'chill, relax'

FIFA president Gianni Infantino faced criticism for his handling of issues surrounding the 2026 World Cup. Instead of addressing concerns, he advised attendees to "chill, relax" during a news conference at Azteca Stadium on the eve of the opening match between Mexico and South Africa. Many felt this was an inadequate response given the recent controversies, including the refusal of a referee's entry into the United States and the questioning of Iraqi striker Aymen Hussein at Chicago's airport before being admitted. Furthermore, Iran's national team was forced to move its base to Mexico after its fans faced ticket cancellations by U.S. authorities, and various delegation members encountered visa denials.

Infantino had an opportunity to advocate for FIFA and support Somali referee Omar Artan, who had his career aspirations disrupted due to immigration issues. However, Infantino merely described the situation as "unfortunate" and continued to praise U.S. President Donald Trump's involvement, asserting that the World Cup would have been "impossible" without Trump's support.

When asked about Artan's expulsion after an 11-hour interrogation, Infantino maintained that FIFA could not control such situations, noting, "We are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces." He emphasized the necessity to respect security decisions made by governments, stating that sometimes it might be better to just "chill, relax." This statement, however, lacked reassurance for Artan, who recently returned to Somalia after his World Cup dream was extinguished.

Despite the uproar over visa issues affecting fans and players, Infantino shifted the conversation to the upcoming 2035 Women’s World Cup, anticipated to be hosted in the United Kingdom—deflecting inquiries regarding current problems in the U.S.

He referred to the historical context of similar visa issues during the 1966 World Cup in England, highlighting that FIFA has limited power over the actions of governments. In the case of Iran, which will participate in the World Cup, they were granted entry to play their matches but with restrictions, including being based in Mexico and having to enter the U.S. for each game without the option to stay longer.

Infantino further defended FIFA amidst accusations of inflation in ticket pricing and concerns raised by several states regarding investigatory actions against the organization. He stated that allegations of price manipulation stemmed from minimal complaints and insisted that FIFA only has one opportunity every four years to generate revenue, claiming demand for tickets was extraordinarily high. Despite this, many fans express frustration over being priced out of attending this World Cup.

Infantino emphasized his close relationship with Trump while asserting he had no regrets about the partnership, indicating Trump’s administration understood the significance of the World Cup and assisted in its planning. Critics argue that Infantino's failure to effectively address pressing immigration and visa concerns reflect a broader issue of FIFA losing control over the events they oversee, leaving individuals like Artan without the expected support.