FIFA President Gianni Infantino has delivered a strong defence of the World Cup 2026, accusing critics of focusing on controversy while ignoring what he described as a tournament that united millions of people around the globe.
In an open letter published on Monday and shared through both his personal social media accounts and FIFA’s official channels, Infantino responded to criticism surrounding the tournament, which was hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico and ultimately won by Spain.
The FIFA chief argued that many detractors had overlooked the positive impact of the competition and instead concentrated on negative narratives.
“To all of you who missed watching kids, babies, grandparents, and parents come together for the beautiful game, I say sorry that the matches are now over and sorry that you missed all that joy and togetherness,” Infantino wrote.
“Sorry that you were so consumed by hate and criticism that you missed it all.”
The 56-year-old also appeared to direct criticism towards journalists and commentators, claiming FIFA had been working tirelessly to deliver a successful tournament while others focused on spreading misinformation.
“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,” he added.
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Infantino highlighted what he described as the tournament’s strong security record, stating that millions of fans attended matches without major incidents.
According to the FIFA president, approximately seven million spectators from more than 200 countries attended games throughout the competition.
“We experienced no violence, no incidents, 100% safety and security, only joy and happiness,” he said.
The World Cup, however, was not without controversy. FIFA faced scrutiny over travel and visa restrictions that affected supporters and officials from several participating nations, including Iran, Haiti, Senegal and the Ivory Coast. Somali referee Omar Artan was also reportedly unable to enter the United States after being denied a visa.
Addressing those concerns, Infantino argued that critics had ignored the larger picture.
“You mentioned the few people denied visas and overlooked the millions who were approved, from all parts of the world. Because football unites the world, and it was demonstrated impressively this summer.”
The FIFA president also referenced criticism over disciplinary and refereeing decisions during the tournament, including debates surrounding player suspensions and controversial officiating calls.
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He maintained that such incidents are common across football and questioned why FIFA had been singled out.
“Potentially mistaken red or yellow cards or subsequent decisions not to ban players in certain situations are routine and widely accepted in some of the biggest leagues worldwide,” Infantino said.
“It’s curious that the same countries employing these practices are the ones criticising.”
Infantino further pointed to the participation of nations facing political, security and public health challenges, describing their presence at the tournament as evidence of football’s ability to transcend divisions.
Citing examples such as Iran, Haiti and the Democratic Republic of Congo, he said the competition demonstrated the unifying power of the sport.
Concluding his message, the FIFA chief urged critics to focus on football’s positive influence rather than controversy.
“To those spending their time and energy hating us, please take a moment to reflect, meditate, pray, or watch a football match and truly observe the faces, the eyes, the emotions,” he wrote.
“May football rise above all hate.”
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