Infantino defends handling of 2026 World Cup chaos with 'chill' plea

FIFA president Gianni Infantino refused to condemn US immigration actions blocking a Somali referee from entering the 2026 World Cup.

Controversy erupts ahead of kickoff Reflecting on the turmoil surrounding the 2026 World Cup just days before its opening, FIFA president Gianni Infantino downplayed the escalating controversies during a press briefing at Azteca Stadium. "Just, you know, chill, relax," Infantino advised reporters on the eve of Mexico's Group C opener against South Africa. His remarks came after a series of disputes highlighted the challenges facing the tournament, including the denial of entry to a FIFA official and prolonged interrogations at US airports. ## Somalia referee's dream crushed The center of one controversy was Somalia's Omar Artan, a top-tier referee whose World Cup participation ended abruptly when US immigration officials refused him entry at Miami International Airport following an 11-hour interrogation. Authorities accused Artan of alleged ties to terrorist groups in his home country. "It is unfortunate what happened to the referee from Somalia," Infantino acknowledged, adding that FIFA does not control border policies. "We try, we'll discuss, we'll speak, we'll see. Maybe sometimes it's good as well to just, you know, chill, relax." Artan returned to Mogadishu on Wednesday, his World Cup dream shattered by the decision. ## Iran faces mounting hurdles Iran's national team encountered a series of obstacles entering the United States, forcing their support staff to relocate to Mexico and compelling players to make 24-hour round trips for group-stage matches. Fans also faced cancellations of their match tickets by US authorities, while team delegates were denied visas in some cases. Despite these barriers, Infantino framed Iran's eventual participation as a personal victory, stating: "When people were saying it would be impossible for Iran to come to the World Cup, I promised them that they would come." He added: "I don't know who else would have been able to ensure in these circumstances - which we could not influence - Iran could come and play." ## FIFA deflects visa policy criticism When queried about the US government's visa restrictions affecting teams and supporters, Infantino shifted focus to the 2035 Women's World Cup, likely to be hosted by the United Kingdom. "Would you find it normal that FIFA would dictate to the British government who to let in the country and who not to let in the country?" he asked, drawing a parallel with England's hosting of the 1966 World Cup, where political tensions briefly threatened North Korea's participation. He emphasized FIFA's limited influence over host nations' immigration decisions, stating: "Unfortunately, our world is, you know, a very aggressive world, and security goes above everything." ## Ticket pricing under scrutiny FIFA's ticket pricing strategy for the 2026 World Cup came under fire from multiple US states, with attorneys general from California, New Jersey, New York, and Texas launching investigations into allegations of price inflation and misleading practices. Infantino dismissed the complaints as minimal, describing them as based on "three, not 3,000" grievances. He defended the pricing model as accurate for the North American market, attributing high costs to "unprecedented by a factor of 10 or more" demand. "We check what we do with the best lawyers, with the best experts," he insisted, adding: "If we do something wrong, probably everyone selling tickets in North America is doing something wrong as well." ## Infantino praises Trump's role Amid growing criticism of FIFA's perceived lack of leverage with the US government, Infantino openly praised President Donald Trump's involvement in securing the tournament's organization. "I don't regret anything," he declared, highlighting a close working relationship with the president. "Without his engagement and his involvement, I think it would have been impossible to organise a World Cup in the United States." Infantino credited Trump with recognizing the event's significance and directing administration officials to facilitate preparations: "He understood immediately the magnitude of the World Cup, the impact of the World Cup, and instructed the administration to help and assist." ## World Cup organizer defends global approach Infantino maintained that FIFA's role is limited to sports governance, not immigration enforcement, stating: "We are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces. We are a sports organisation. We try to do our best with the means that we have." He acknowledged the aggressive geopolitical climate but urged patience, reiterating his earlier phrase: "When I say to chill, I don't mean to chill and do nothing." The remarks underscored FIFA's stance of prioritizing event execution over political disputes affecting teams and officials.