
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has strongly responded to critics of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, accusing them of spreading hate and false rumors. In a 15-part Instagram post, Infantino defended the tournament as a celebration of unity and joy, claiming it was "100% safe and secure" with no incidents.
Infantino's post, shared on his personal Instagram account with 5.7 million followers and on FIFA's official account with over 8 million followers, accused critics of being consumed by hate and spreading false narratives. He wrote, "While you are dividing, we are uniting. While you are spreading hate, we are spreading love. While you are writing false narratives, we are writing history."
The FIFA president also expressed pride in the tournament's success, stating that it brought together millions of spectators and celebrated humanity at its best. He thanked the governments of the host countries, FIFA staff, police, and volunteers for their efforts.
However, the tournament was not without controversy. Critics pointed to issues with travel restrictions imposed by the Trump administration, which affected fans from countries like Iran, Haiti, Senegal, and Ivory Coast. Kalidou Koulibaly, the captain of the Senegalese national team, expressed confusion over why African teams' fans couldn't be present like other teams' fans.
Additionally, there were reports of difficulties faced by the Iranian national team, including visa issues and allegations of mistreatment at border controls. Mehdi Taremi, the captain of the Iranian team, described the tournament as a "disaster" due to these issues.
Infantino's response comes amid ongoing debates about the organization and management of the World Cup. Despite the controversies, Infantino maintained that the tournament was a success, highlighting the unity and joy it brought to millions of fans worldwide.
The FIFA president also addressed criticisms of specific decisions made during the tournament, such as the reversal of a suspension for American star Folarin Balogun, allegedly at the request of then-President Donald Trump. Infantino argued that such decisions are common in major tournaments and should not be a source of controversy.
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