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Rabat – FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Wednesday he does not regret choosing the United States as co‑host of the 2026 World Cup, despite growing criticism over visa issues, ticket prices, and Iran’s participation.
Speaking at a one‑hour press conference on the eve of the tournament’s opening match in Mexico City, Infantino admitted that organizing an event of this scale “cannot be perfect.”
He said FIFA had faced challenges beyond its control, including the case of Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the US last weekend.
“We are indeed confronted with challenges we’d rather not confront,” Infantino said. “We have to deal with them. Sometimes we can solve them, and sometimes we can’t.”
He described Artan’s situation as “unfortunate,” adding that FIFA was in contact with authorities. “We don’t control everything,” he said. “We try, we discuss, we speak, we see.”
Infantino urged critics to remain calm, saying that “sometimes shouting immediately has the opposite effect.”
He insisted FIFA was working behind the scenes to resolve problems but could not dictate government decisions. “We are not kings of the world,” he said. “We are a sports organization doing our best with the means we have.”
When asked about reports linking Artan to suspected extremist groups, Infantino avoided direct comment but drew a comparison with future tournaments. “Would it be normal for FIFA to tell the British government who to let in or not?” he asked, referring to the 2035 Women’s World Cup in the United Kingdom.
He acknowledged that visa processing for hundreds of thousands of accredited people was complex. “Security goes above everything,” he said. “You need to respect the decisions that are taken.”
No regrets over US hosting
Infantino also dismissed suggestions that he regretted awarding hosting rights to the U.S. “No, I don’t regret anything,” he said.
“There are always issues with big events. These are probably smaller than the ones we faced in Qatar.”
Asked about his relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump, Infantino described it as “positive and constructive.”
He credited Trump’s involvement for helping secure government support for the tournament. “Without his engagement, it would have been impossible to organize a World Cup in the United States,” he said.
“He understood the magnitude and impact of the event and instructed the administration to assist.”
Infantino said cooperation with the U.S. government was essential, given the country’s global influence.
“You are speaking about the biggest power in the world,” he noted. “To exchange with the president on important topics, to put everything on the table, without asking for anything, that’s the key to a positive relationship.”
On ticket prices, Infantino defended FIFA’s approach, comparing them to major American sports events such as the NBA Finals.
“The World Cup is much more important,” he said. “If we are doing something wrong, then everyone selling tickets in North America is doing something wrong.”
He added that FIFA was “relaxed” about investigations by US state attorneys general into ticketing practices.
Infantino closed the press conference by urging journalists to focus on the tournament’s positive side.
“If you want to criticize me, criticize me,” he said. “But promote the unity of the World Cup. Promote the emotions people feel when they come together. We want to unite the world.”
