Fifa president Gianni Infantino has told his detractors to “meditate, pray or watch a football match” instead of “spreading hate and false rumours” about his leadership – in a rambling open letter that whitewashes the controversies that marred this summer’s World Cup.
The 886-word statement, published on his personal Instagram account and reposted to Fifa’s eight million followers, as well as on the governing body’s website, addresses “those behind their pens and papers, behind their screens” whom he accuses of being “busy planting seeds of hate” while Fifa delivers the “greatest event on earth”.
“FIFA president Gianni Infantino wrote an 886-word open letter telling critics to 'meditate or pray' while glossing over World Cup controversies”
Infantino, who attended 44 matches in 39 days in a private jet to rub shoulders with world leaders and celebrities, insists the tournament – staged across the US, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19 – was a triumph of unity. He claims there were “zero incidents, zero violence, just joy, emotions, happiness, unity, and togetherness”.
But his version of events clashes sharply with the reality documented throughout the tournament. Iran’s head coach, Amir Ghalenoei, described his team as the “most oppressed” at the World Cup after “integral” backroom staff were denied entry to the US, fans had ticket allocations revoked, and the team was forced to move its training base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico, following a multitude of logistical issues. Iran also faced restrictions on movement between their base and group matches in Los Angeles and Seattle.
Infantino, however, writes: “Iran entered the United States without incident or conflict” and that Fifa “worked tirelessly to unite two countries at war”.
Other controversies Infantino glosses over include Somali referee Omar Artan being denied a US visa despite holding a diplomatic passport and a single-entry visa – because of his “association with suspected members of terror organisations”. Fans from Haiti, Senegal and Ivory Coast were also hit by travel bans imposed by the Trump administration. Infantino’s response: “You mentioned the few people denied visas and overlooked the millions who were approved.”
Donald Trump, who has put Infantino forward as the next head of the United Nations, admitted interfering in the disciplinary proceedings involving US striker Folarin Balogun after a red card. The final itself was marred by altercations between Argentina’s players and coaching staff and Spain’s squad after Spain’s victory – a matter Fifa is now investigating. Infantino, who attended the final alongside Trump in New Jersey, makes no mention of the scenes.
“Virtually all global celebrities from music, movies, entertainment, and sports attended,” he writes, adding that the 2026 tournament had “100% safety and security, only joy and happiness”.
The open letter, which runs to 886 words, is widely seen as an attempt to shore up support as Infantino seeks another term – and to rewrite the narrative of a World Cup that was anything but controversy-free.