FIFA PRESIDENT Gianni Infantino defended the governing body’s handling of visa issues ahead of the World Cup, saying FIFA was working to find solutions but could not override government decisions.
Speaking on the eve of the tournament opener between co-hosts Mexico and South Africa, Infantino addressed concerns over Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was barred from entering the United States despite holding a valid visa.
Infantino said, “It is unfortunate what happened to the referee from Somalia. We are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces. We are a sports organisation.”
Artan was denied entry by US authorities over alleged links to “suspected members of terror organizations.” Infantino said FIFA was working behind the scenes to resolve outstanding issues but stressed that immigration decisions ultimately rested with national authorities. The case has drawn attention to broader immigration challenges ahead of the June 11-July 19 tournament.
Infantino added, “We always try to find solutions. Sometimes, to immediately start screaming and shouting has the opposite effect of finding a solution.” Asked whether visa-related controversies had made him regret selecting the U.S. as one of the host nations, Infantino said he had no regrets. “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.
“People were saying Iran couldn’t come to the World Cup. I promised them they will come.”
Infantino cited Iran’s participation despite geopolitical tensions as an example of football’s ability to unite people, repeatedly returning to a message of unity and describing the World Cup as a welcome distraction amid global conflict and uncertainty.
“When Iran plays, the stadium will be full, and I hope there will be a positive atmosphere because this is football,” he said.
FIFA has sold more than six million tickets for the tournament, with Infantino saying demand had exceeded expectations by “a factor of 10 or more”.
“We want to unite the world. 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.”
The tournament opens on Thursday at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, making it the first stadium to host matches at three men’s World Cups. Infantino predicted the edition would be among the most competitive in the tournament’s history.
Infantino added that altitude, climate, travel demands, and the expanded 48-team format would add further unpredictability to the tournament.
