FIFA President Addresses Controversies Ahead of World Cup 2026

FIFA President's Remarks on Current Issues

Gianni Infantino, the President of FIFA, has attempted to downplay the controversies surrounding the upcoming FIFA World Cup, urging people to remain calm. The 2026 FIFA World Cup has been under scrutiny for various issues, including exorbitant ticket prices and stringent immigration regulations. These policies have resulted in the denial of entry to several individuals, including members of the Iranian team and Somali referee Omar Artan, despite their valid visas and diplomatic passports, drawing widespread criticism.

In light of these controversies, Infantino addressed the media, particularly commenting on Artan's deportation. He acknowledged FIFA's limitations in influencing government policies, stating, "We don't control everything. We try. We'll discuss, we will speak, we'll see. Maybe sometimes it's good as well to just chill, relax." He emphasized the importance of finding solutions rather than reacting impulsively, saying, "Sometimes to immediately start screaming and shouting has the opposite effect of finding a solution."

Infantino Justifies Ticket Pricing

Infantino also defended the high ticket prices, arguing that lowering them could inadvertently benefit black market dealers. He explained, "If you sell it at a lower price point, in this particular market it would have gone — which is perfectly legal in this country ... in secondary markets at much, much, much higher prices and where would the money go then? Well, to those who organise secondary markets or black market activities and not to football."

Addressing concerns regarding legal investigations in various U.S. states, he expressed confidence in FIFA's compliance, stating, "When it comes to these legal investigations or complaints that were made in some states in the U.S., we are very relaxed about it because before starting to sell 6 and a half or 7 million tickets we check what we do with the best lawyers, with the best experts."

Praise for Donald Trump's Role

Infantino also commended Donald Trump for his significant role in facilitating the World Cup in the United States, asserting that without Trump's involvement, organizing the event would have been impossible. He remarked, "Without his engagement and his involvement, I think it would have been impossible — as simple as that, it would’ve been impossible to organise a World Cup in the United States."

He projected that the tournament could potentially generate $30 billion in revenue, emphasizing FIFA's decision to keep the event accessible to a global audience rather than placing everything behind a paywall. "We could put everything on pay. We would generate $30 billion in revenue, probably," he stated. "But then you have billions of people in the world who would not be able to watch the World Cup."