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FIFA President Gianni Infantino has pushed back against critics of the recent World Cup, saying that detractors have been “spreading hate and false rumours” while the tournament itself delivered “only joy and happiness.”
In an open letter published on Monday, Infantino urged those critical of the event to “take a moment to reflect, meditate, pray,” highlighting controversies surrounding ticket pricing, visa issues, and geopolitical tensions across host nations Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
“Sorry that you were so consumed by hate and criticism that you missed it all,” He added in a post shared widely on FIFA’s official channels and his Instagram account.
Infantino defended FIFA’s management of sensitive international issues, pointing to Iran’s participation amid tensions with the United States.
“While you spread hatred, we worked tirelessly to unite two countries at war. Iran entered the United States without incident or conflict,” he wrote. “The Iranian team received visas to enter because football is about peace. It’s not about politics.”
His remarks stood in contrast to Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei, who described his team as the “most oppressed” at the World Cup, while star striker Mehdi Taremi labelled their experience a “disaster.”
Infantino also addressed criticism of officiating, particularly regarding U.S. striker Folarin Balogun, whose one-match suspension was reviewed following a request from President Donald Trump. UEFA termed the intervention “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.”
Infantino responded, “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. It’s curious that the same countries employing these practices are the ones criticising.”
Through the letter, Infantino reinforced FIFA’s stance that the tournament prioritised safety, fairness, and global unity, countering narratives of bias or mismanagement.
