FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended the United States’ role as a host of the 2026 FIFA World Cup amid mounting concerns over visa restrictions and entry denials involving players and officials participating in the tournament.
Key highlight:
Infantino defends U.S. World Cup hosting role
- Visa controversy sparks concerns
FIFA prefers diplomacy over public criticism
- Iran’s participation cited as a success
- 2026 World Cup faces geopolitical challenges
Speaking in Mexico City on the eve of the competition’s opening matches, Infantino stressed that FIFA cannot override the immigration policies of sovereign nations, noting that the organisation’s mandate is limited to football administration rather than government decision-making.
His comments come in the wake of controversy surrounding Somali referee Omar Artan, who was reportedly denied entry into the United States despite holding a valid visa. Following the incident, FIFA removed him from the tournament roster.
Describing the development as unfortunate, Infantino said FIFA lacks the authority to intervene directly in national immigration decisions.
“We try always to find solutions, but we need to respect that we are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces. We are a sports organisation and we try to do our best with the means that we have,” he said.
The FIFA president also defended the organisation’s approach to handling visa-related challenges, arguing that diplomatic engagement behind closed doors is often more effective than public criticism.
“Sometimes, to immediately start screaming and shouting has the opposite effect in terms of finding a solution,” he added.
The debate intensified after U.S. President Donald Trump stated that his administration was working to ensure that “the right people” are allowed into the country for the World Cup.
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Despite the concerns, Infantino said FIFA has no regrets about selecting the United States as a co-host of the expanded 48-team tournament, which will be staged alongside Mexico and Canada.
The issue has also drawn attention because of geopolitical tensions involving Iran, whose national team qualified for the tournament amid strained relations with Washington.
Although Iranian players and officials were eventually granted visas to enter the United States shortly before their opening fixture in Los Angeles, the team chose to establish its training base in Mexico and travel into the U.S. only for scheduled matches before returning to Tijuana.
Infantino cited Iran’s participation as evidence that FIFA’s diplomatic efforts had yielded positive results.
“It has been successful to bring Iran to play in America. We don’t live on the moon; we live on planet Earth, and we try our best,” he said.
The 2026 World Cup is widely regarded as one of the most politically sensitive editions of the tournament. It will be the first World Cup staged across three host nations and is expected to take place against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical tensions, adding a new dimension to football’s biggest global event.
While FIFA continues to face scrutiny over visa access and tournament logistics, Infantino maintained that the governing body remains focused on ensuring the smooth delivery of the competition and supporting all participating teams and officials.
The tournament, set to be the largest in World Cup history, is expected to attract millions of fans across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
