Infantino defends FIFA amid visa disputes, ticket price backlash at 2026 World Cup

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended football’s governing body against growing criticism over ticket prices and visa-related challenges as the 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Speaking in Mexico City on the eve of the tournament’s opening match, Infantino said FIFA was doing everything within its authority to address concerns raised by fans, officials and members of the media.

However, he stressed that decisions relating to immigration and border control remain the responsibility of individual governments.

The FIFA chief’s comments come amid heightened scrutiny over access to the tournament following the case of Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was denied entry into the United States despite reportedly possessing a valid visa.

American authorities said the decision was based on alleged links to suspected terrorist elements, a claim that generated debate over participation rights and access procedures at the world’s biggest football event.

Addressing the controversy, Infantino described the situation as unfortunate but maintained that FIFA has no authority to override decisions taken by national border control agencies or government institutions.

According to him, the organisation continues to engage relevant authorities behind the scenes in an effort to assist with unresolved cases where possible.

While acknowledging concerns raised by stakeholders, Infantino rejected suggestions that visa-related incidents had damaged confidence in the United States’ ability to host the tournament.

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He argued that administrative and logistical challenges are inevitable for an event of such magnitude, particularly one being jointly hosted by three countries for the first time in World Cup history.

The FIFA president noted that operational issues had emerged across all three host nations—the United States, Canada and Mexico—and said organisers were working closely with local authorities to address concerns as they arise.

Beyond visa controversies, ticket pricing has also become a major talking point ahead of the competition, with some supporters complaining that the cost of attending matches is beyond the reach of ordinary fans.

Critics have argued that rising ticket prices risk excluding traditional football supporters from experiencing the tournament in person.

Infantino, however, defended FIFA’s pricing policy, citing unprecedented demand for tickets to the expanded 48-team World Cup.

According to FIFA, more than six million tickets have already been sold, with demand significantly exceeding available supply across many venues.

The FIFA president argued that setting prices substantially lower could have encouraged large-scale ticket resales on secondary markets, allowing touts and speculators to profit from inflated prices.

He also emphasized that revenue generated from ticket sales and commercial activities is reinvested into football development initiatives worldwide, including grassroots programmes, youth competitions, infrastructure projects and support for national football associations.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup marks a historic expansion of the tournament, increasing participation from 32 to 48 teams and making it the largest edition of the competition ever staged.