FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended the world football governing body’s handling of visa complications and ticket pricing ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, stressing that while FIFA is actively working to resolve issues, it cannot override decisions taken by sovereign governments.
Speaking on Wednesday, just a day before the tournament’s opening match between co-hosts Mexico and South Africa, Infantino addressed growing concern over the case of Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was denied entry into the United States despite reportedly holding a valid visa.
“It is unfortunate what happened to the referee from Somalia,” Gianni Infantino said during a press briefing.
“We are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces. We are a sports organisation, ” he added.
The incident has intensified scrutiny of immigration screening processes ahead of the June 11–July 19 tournament, with U.S. authorities reportedly stating that Artan was refused entry over alleged links to “suspected members of terror organsations”.
Infantino said FIFA continued to engage with stakeholders to resolve outstanding challenges, but emphasized that immigration authority rests solely with national governments.
“We always try to find solutions. Sometimes to immediately start screaming and shouting has the opposite effect of finding a solution, ” he said.
When asked whether the visa-related disputes made him reconsider the decision to award hosting rights to the United States, Infantino dismissed the idea, insisting such issues are part of staging a global tournament of this scale.
“There are issues; it’s normal for an event of this magnitude. Some come from the United States, some from Canada, some from Mexico. We deal with all of them, ” he said.
The FIFA president also cited Iran’s participation as an example of how the organisation navigates complex political realities to ensure global representation.
“People were saying Iran couldn’t come to the World Cup. I promised them they will come, ” he said.
He further argued that football remains a unifying force despite geopolitical tensions.
“When Iran plays, the stadium will be full and I hope there will be a positive atmosphere because this is football.
“We want to unite the world, ” he said.
On the issue of ticket pricing, Infantino also defended FIFA’s strategy after widespread criticism from fans who say match access has become increasingly unaffordable.
According to FIFA, more than six million tickets have already been sold for the expanded 48-team competition, with demand reportedly exceeding expectations by a factor of 10 or more.
“The starting price at $60 is the lowest entry price of any of the American sports in the playoff phases.
“If you sell it at a lower price point, it would have gone on secondary markets at much higher prices. Every dollar that comes in goes back to the development of football, ”Infantino said.
The tournament kicks off at the historic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, which would become the first stadium ever to host matches in three men’s World Cups.
Looking ahead, Infantino predicted one of the most competitive editions in tournament history, pointing to altitude, climate conditions, travel demands, and the expanded format.
He closed with optimism: “Let the celebration begin.”
