FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended the organisation’s handling of visa-related issues and ticket pricing ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, saying football’s governing body cannot override decisions made by national governments.
Speaking on the eve of the tournament opener between Mexico and South Africa, Infantino addressed concerns surrounding 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,” Infantino said, adding that FIFA is a sports organisation and not in a position to overrule government authorities.
The case has highlighted immigration challenges surrounding the expanded 48-team tournament, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. US authorities reportedly denied Artan entry due to alleged links to suspected members of terrorist organisations.
Infantino said FIFA continues to work behind the scenes to resolve outstanding visa-related issues but stressed that immigration decisions remain under the jurisdiction of national governments.
Despite the controversy, he said he had no regrets about awarding hosting rights to the three North American nations.
“There are issues; it’s normal for an event of this magnitude,” he said, noting that challenges arise across all host countries and FIFA is working to address them.
The FIFA chief also pointed to the participation of Iran as an example of football’s ability to bridge political divides despite ongoing geopolitical tensions.
“People were saying Iran couldn’t come to the World Cup. I promised them they will come,” he said.
Infantino repeatedly emphasised football’s role in bringing people together at a time of growing global uncertainty and conflict.
On ticket pricing, he rejected criticism that attending matches had become prohibitively expensive, noting that FIFA has already sold more than six million tickets for the tournament.
According to Infantino, demand has exceeded expectations by more than tenfold, while the tournament’s entry-level ticket price of US$60 remains lower than many major North American sporting events during playoff stages.
He argued that significantly cheaper tickets would likely have fuelled resale activity in secondary markets at much higher prices.
The tournament begins today at Estadio Azteca, which will become the first stadium in history to host matches at three men’s FIFA World Cups.
Infantino said factors such as altitude, climate conditions, travel demands and the expanded tournament format could make the 2026 edition one of the most competitive and unpredictable World Cups ever staged.
“Let the celebration begin,” he said.
Reuters
