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 and the World Cup. The outburst, posted on his personal Instagram account and reposted to Fifa’s eight million followers, came as the organisation faced criticism over a series of controversies surrounding the 2026 tournament, which was co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Infantino’s open letter, addressed to "those behind their pens and papers, behind their screens", defended the tournament as a celebration of unity and safety. He claimed the World Cup "celebrated humanity at its best", adding that the event experienced "zero incidents, zero violence, just joy, emotions, happiness, unity, and togetherness". He downplayed high-profile controversies, including US visa restrictions that affected fans and officials from countries such as Iran, Haiti, Senegal and Ivory Coast, as well as the suspension of a red card for US striker Folarin Balogun after intervention from Donald Trump.
“Gianni Infantino's explosive open letter defending the 2026 World Cup against critics, and the controversies it highlighted.”
The 2026 World Cup was the first to be staged across three countries and the first in North America since 1994. From the start, it was dogged by political and logistical disputes. Iran’s team, locked in conflict with co-host the United States, faced visa delays, had "integral" backroom staff denied entry, and saw fan tickets revoked. They were forced to move their training base from Tucson, Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico due to logistical problems. Similarly, Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry despite holding a diplomatic passport and a valid US visa, because of his "association with suspected members of terror organisations". Infantino dismissed these as isolated cases, writing: "You mentioned the few people denied visas and overlooked the millions who were approved."
For UK readers, the row matters because Fifa’s leadership and decision-making directly affect English football. The Premier League supplies the largest number of players to World Cups, and England is a potential future host nation. Infantino’s combative style has drawn comparisons to the US president he posed with at the final, with critics accusing him of acting like a political strongman. The BBC reported that Infantino’s comments are in "stark contradiction" to those of Iran’s head coach Amir Ghalenoei, who said his team were the "most oppressed" at the tournament. Fifa is also investigating Argentina’s actions after their players were involved in altercations with Spain’s players in the final, and probing allegations of racist abuse towards American players.
Q: What exactly did Gianni Infantino say in his open letter? Infantino accused critics of "spreading hate and false rumours" while Fifa was "on the front lines organising, working hard, and delivering the best show in the world". He told them to "meditate, pray or watch a football match" instead of criticising.
Q: Why was Iran’s participation in the World Cup controversial? Iran and the US are in conflict, and Iran faced severe travel restrictions imposed by the US government. Their team experienced visa delays, denied entry for staff, revoked fan tickets, and had to move their training base. Infantino claimed Iran entered the US "without incident or conflict" and that football is "not about politics".
Q: What is the Folarin Balogun affair? US striker Folarin Balogun received a red card during the tournament, but Fifa suspended the automatic one-match ban after intervention from President Donald Trump. Infantino defended this by saying similar decisions to not ban players are routine in major leagues, and that it was "curious" that the same countries criticising employ these practices.
What happens next? Fifa is continuing investigations into Argentina’s conduct and racist abuse allegations. Infantino’s letter has not ended the debate; La Liga’s president has said his "time is up" at Fifa. The 2026 World Cup is over, but questions about Fifa’s independence and transparency remain, especially with the 2030 and 2034 tournaments already awarded to Saudi Arabia and a joint bid led by Morocco, Portugal and Spain.