FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended the successful staging of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, accusing critics of spreading “hate and false rumours” throughout the tournament while insisting the competition ultimately united millions of football fans around the world.
In an open letter published on Monday through FIFA’s official platforms and his Instagram account, Infantino said the month-long tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico proved many of the pre-tournament fears and online narratives wrong.
The World Cup was preceded by widespread concerns over soaring ticket prices, visa restrictions, security, political tensions and the impact of extreme summer temperatures across the three host nations. During the tournament, social media was also awash with claims and speculation from fans and commentators about safety, travel restrictions and FIFA’s handling of several issues.
However, Infantino maintained that the tournament was defined by peace, excitement and unity rather than the negative picture painted by critics.
“Sorry that you were so consumed by hate and criticism that you missed it all,” Infantino wrote.
“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.
“We experienced no violence, no incidents, 100 per cent safety and security, only joy and happiness.”
Infantino argued that many of the fears circulated before and during the World Cup turned out to be exaggerated, pointing to the peaceful atmosphere in host cities and the massive turnout of supporters as evidence that the competition was a success.
He also dismissed claims surrounding visa restrictions, noting that while isolated cases attracted widespread attention online, millions of fans, players, officials and visitors were granted entry into the host nations without difficulty.
During the tournament, fans frequently engaged in heated debates on social media over issues ranging from refereeing decisions and disciplinary actions to immigration policies and security arrangements, with several narratives gaining traction before official clarifications were issued.
Addressing those controversies, Infantino insisted FIFA remained focused on delivering the tournament rather than responding to what he described as misinformation.
“While you spread hatred, we worked tirelessly to unite two countries at war. Iran entered the United States without incident or conflict,” he said.
“The Iranian team received visas to enter because football is about peace. It’s not about politics.”
He added that countries facing health emergencies and other challenges were also accommodated, arguing that critics focused on a handful of rejected visa applications while ignoring the millions that were approved.
Infantino also defended FIFA over criticism of officiating after the governing body came under scrutiny for lifting United States striker Folarin Balogun’s one-match suspension ahead of his country’s Round of 16 clash with Belgium.
The decision sparked widespread debate among fans and criticism from UEFA, which described the intervention as “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.”
Responding to the backlash, Infantino said controversial refereeing and disciplinary decisions are common across football’s biggest leagues.
“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 are routine and widely accepted in some of the biggest leagues worldwide.
“It’s curious that the same countries employing these practices are the ones criticising.”
Despite the controversies and online debates that surrounded the competition, Infantino maintained that the 2026 FIFA World Cup would be remembered for bringing people together and delivering what he described as “the best show in the world.”
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