Infantino Brushes Off World Cup Critics
· Yahoo Sports
FIFA President Gianni Infantino dismissed the controversies that marred the 2026 World Cup, calling on the soccer tournament’s critics to “take a moment to reflect, meditate, pray, or watch a football match.”
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“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 wrote in an open letter posted on FIFA’s website on Sunday. “While you divide, we unite.”
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“We experienced no violence, no incidents, 100% safety and security, only joy and happiness!” he continued.
Infantino claimed FIFA “worked tirelessly” to reconcile differences between Tehran and Washington, claiming “Iran entered the United States without incident or conflict.” Despite Infantino’s assessment, Iran’s coach said his team was “the most oppressed one in the whole World Cup,” citing last-minute travel changes.
Infantino also seemed to brush off high-profile controversies, like the decision to lift the one-game suspension for U.S. player Folarin Balogun following an intervention by President Donald Trump.
“Your dissatisfaction with a few decisions made by the competent authorities is understandable, but please refer to public records: such decisions are common in some of the most important leagues,” he said. “Indeed, ‘arguable’ referees’ decisions or ‘strange’ disciplinary rulings such as for instance potentially mistaken red or yellow cards or subsequent decisions not to ban players in certain situations are routine and widely accepted in some of the biggest leagues worldwide.”
Infantino then went on to encourage “those spending their time and energy hating us, please take a moment to reflect, meditate, pray, or watch a football match and truly observe the faces, the eyes, the emotions.”
Read the full letter here.