FIFA Chief Defends Response to World Cup Visa Problems, Says "Screaming Won't Help"

FIFA president Gianni Infantino pushed back on criticism over visa problems at the 2026 World Cup on Wednesday, saying his organisation cannot override government decisions and that a calmer approach tends to work better than public outrage.

Speaking at a pre-tournament news conference in Mexico City, Infantino addressed two specific issues that have grabbed attention ahead of the tournament: the U.S. government's denial of entry to a Somali referee and ongoing questions about ticket prices.

On the referee situation, Infantino acknowledged it was unfortunate but said FIFA's hands were tied. Omar Artan, who was set to become the first Somali referee ever to work at a World Cup, was turned away at Miami International Airport after arriving from Istanbul. A U.S. official said he was refused entry because of links to suspected members of terror organisations.

"It is unfortunate what happened to Omar," Infantino said. "But again, we don't control everything."

He also urged patience with FIFA's wider approach, saying that going public with complaints can actually make things harder to resolve. "Sometimes to immediately start screaming and shouting has the opposite effect," he said. When pressed, he clarified that his "chill and relax" comment was not a call to do nothing. "I mean to trust us that we are working behind the scenes," he said.

Infantino pointed to the Iran situation as proof the approach can work. Despite deep tensions between Iran and the U.S., the Iranian team was cleared to compete, training out of Tijuana, Mexico after their original base plans ran into problems. He said he does not regret choosing the U.S. as a host country.

On ticket pricing, Infantino said FIFA is also relaxed about ongoing investigations by attorneys general in California, New Jersey, New York, and Texas. Tickets were priced from $140, with premium seats for the July 19 final in New Jersey going up to $8,680. After criticism, FIFA released a batch of $60 tickets through national federations. Infantino said the average price came in under $500 and was comparable to U.S. playoff sports, though that comparison appears to apply more to resale prices than official list prices.

"We welcome any investigations," he said.

The World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, kicked off Thursday at Estadio Azteca with Mexico taking on South Africa.