FIFA president Gianni Infantino has launched a scathing assault on critics of the World Cup, claiming that they had been “consumed by hate and criticism” and spreading “false rumors.”
Whereas many of the match went easily, there have been quite a few controversies that surrounded the occasion, together with President Trump’s involvement in suspending the pink card ban on UMSNT striker Folarin Balogun. Somalian referee Omar Artan was additionally denied a visa for the match, whereas FIFA was additionally criticized for the allegedly “misleading” method of their ticket gross sales.
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Per week after Spain’s win over Argentina within the ultimate, Infantino took to Instagram to hit again on the perceived naysayers of the US, Mexico and Canada-hosted match.
President Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino with the World Cup trophy in the course of the trophy presentation on July 19, 2026. REUTERS
“To everybody who missed our stunning sport, the feelings, the celebrations, the laughter, the crying, the deception, and the enjoyment,” Infantino wrote. “To all of you who missed watching children, infants, grandparents, and fogeys come collectively for the attractive sport, I apologize that the matches at the moment are over and sorry that you just missed all that pleasure and togetherness. Sorry that you just had been so consumed by hate and criticism that you just missed all of it.
“To these behind their pens and papers, behind their screens spreading hate and false rumours, I need to say that when you are sitting behind, we at FIFA are on the entrance traces organising, working arduous, and delivering the very best present on the planet,” he continued, showing to take purpose at journalists.
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Infantino claimed that the match had “no violence… solely pleasure and happiness”, and appeared to reference the Balogun saga, during which the striker noticed his pink card ban suspended by what FIFA referred to as an unbiased disciplinary committee.
Regardless of the USA’ woeful 4-1 loss to Belgium after Balogun’s reinstatement, the choice nonetheless brought on an uproar within the soccer neighborhood.
“Your dissatisfaction with a couple of choices made by the competent authorities is comprehensible, however please consult with public data: such choices are widespread in a few of the most essential leagues,” Infantino mentioned.
United States’ Folarin Balogun (20) fouls Bosnia’s Tarik Muharemovic (4), leading to a pink card go Balogun, in the course of the World Cup spherical of 32 soccer match between the USA and Bosnia in Santa Clara, Calif., close to San Francisco, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. AP Photograph/Jeff Chiu
“Certainly, ‘controversial’ referees’ choices or ‘unusual’ disciplinary rulings comparable to for example probably mistaken pink or yellow playing cards or subsequent choices to not ban gamers in sure conditions are routine and broadly accepted in a few of the greatest leagues worldwide.
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“It is curious that the identical international locations using these practices are those criticising.”
Infantino additionally defended the dealing with of visas in the course of the match, during which followers from Iran, Haiti, Senegal and Ivory Coast had been affected by journey bans. Infantino mentioned critics “ignored the thousands and thousands who had been accepted” for visas and celebrated Iran being a part of the match “with out incident or battle” amid the continuing struggle (Iran’s coach complained regularly concerning the journey chaos affecting the workforce.)
President Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino after the FIFA World Cup Remaining sport at MetLife Stadium, Jul 19, 2026, East Rutherford, NJ. USA TODAY Community by way of Reuters Join
“When the Iranian workforce started taking part in, all of the chants towards them was a single tune,” he mentioned. “The followers turned the nation, they turned the workforce, and so they stood behind Workforce Melli. That is the facility of soccer. The Iranian workforce acquired visas to enter as a result of soccer is about peace. It isn’t about politics. Soccer is about unity, not division. Soccer is greater than hate and discrimination.”
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Later in his message, Infantino claimed that the match “celebrated humanity at its finest,” and offered a robust message to critics.
“To these spending their time and vitality hating us, please take a second to mirror, meditate, pray, or watch a soccer match and actually observe the faces, the eyes, the feelings,” he mentioned.
Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan attends a welcome ceremony after returning to Mogadishu, Somalia, on June 10, 2026. Anadolu by way of Getty Photographs
He later added: “Could you discover peace; we at FIFA have discovered ours and we ship it, by delivering probably the most excellent FIFA World Cup. Could soccer rise above all hate.”