（Singapore, 11.06.2026）FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended the organisation’s handling of visa-related challenges and ticket pricing concerns ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, saying FIFA is doing its best to address issues while balancing the demands of hosting the largest tournament in football history.
Speaking at a press conference in Mexico City on Wednesday, just hours before the tournament’s opening match between co-host Mexico and South Africa, Infantino addressed growing criticism surrounding immigration complications and the rising cost of attending World Cup matches.
FIFA Responds to Visa Controversies
One of the biggest talking points ahead of the tournament has been the case of Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was denied entry into the United States despite holding a valid visa.
US authorities reportedly cited concerns over his alleged links to individuals suspected of being associated with terrorist organisations. The incident has sparked debate over whether immigration policies could affect participants travelling to the World Cup, which is being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Infantino described the situation as unfortunate but stressed that FIFA has no authority over national immigration decisions.
“It is unfortunate what happened to the referee from Somalia,” he said. “We are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces. We are a sports organisation.”
The FIFA chief said the governing body has been working behind the scenes to help resolve visa-related issues wherever possible, but ultimate decisions remain in the hands of government authorities.
“We always try to find solutions,” he said. “Sometimes immediately screaming and shouting can have the opposite effect of finding a solution.”
Despite the controversy, Infantino insisted he has no regrets about selecting the United States as one of the tournament hosts.
“There are issues; it’s normal for an event of this magnitude,” he said. “Some come from the United States, some from Canada, some from Mexico. We deal with all of them.”
Football’s Role in Bringing People Together
Infantino also pointed to Iran’s participation in the World Cup as an example of FIFA’s efforts to ensure football remains inclusive despite political tensions around the world.
Before the tournament, there had been concerns that geopolitical issues could affect Iran’s involvement. However, the country remains among the 48 teams competing in this year’s expanded competition.
“People were saying Iran couldn’t come to the World Cup,” Infantino said. “I promised them they will come.”
He argued that football has a unique ability to unite people from different countries and cultures, particularly during periods of global uncertainty.
“When Iran plays, the stadium will be full and I hope there will be a positive atmosphere because this is football,” he said. “We want to unite the world.”
Throughout the press conference, Infantino repeatedly highlighted unity as one of FIFA’s main goals for the tournament.
At a time when conflicts and political divisions continue to affect many parts of the world, he said the World Cup provides an opportunity for fans to come together and celebrate the sport.
Ticket Prices Continue to Draw Criticism
While visa concerns have attracted headlines, ticket prices remain one of the most debated issues surrounding the 2026 World Cup.
Many fans have expressed frustration over the high cost of attending matches, with some saying the tournament has become increasingly inaccessible to ordinary supporters.
FIFA has adopted a dynamic pricing model for ticket sales, meaning prices can rise or fall depending on demand. While some supporters have criticised the system, Infantino defended the strategy, arguing that demand for the tournament has exceeded expectations.
According to FIFA, more than six million tickets have already been sold, with demand running more than ten times higher than available supply in some cases.
Infantino noted that ticket prices started at US$60 (S$77.28) and claimed the average ticket price of just under US$500 (S$644.04) remains lower than many major American sporting events during their playoff stages.
“The starting price at US$60 is the lowest entry price of any American sport in the playoff phases,” he said.
Premium tickets, however, have attracted criticism after some packages for the World Cup final were listed at prices reaching nearly US$33,000 (S$42,509.65).
Infantino argued that lowering prices would likely have encouraged ticket scalping, allowing resellers to profit while FIFA received none of the revenue.
“If you sell it at a lower price point, it would have gone on secondary markets at much higher prices,” he said.
He added that ticket sales play a crucial role in funding football development programmes around the world.
“As FIFA president, I have the responsibility to generate the income that allows FIFA to invest in countries where otherwise nobody would invest,” he said.
“Every dollar that comes in goes back to the development of football.”
FIFA Welcomes Investigations
The organisation is also facing scrutiny from several US state officials over ticket sales practices.
Authorities in states including California, New York, New Jersey and Texas have either launched investigations or raised concerns about allegations that fans were misled regarding seat locations and ticket quality after purchases were made.
Some supporters have claimed the seats they received did not match the stadium maps or descriptions provided during the buying process.
Despite the investigations, Infantino said FIFA remains confident that its ticketing system complies with all regulations.
“We are very relaxed,” he said. “We welcome every investigation. We are happy to present everything and make our case.”
Tournament Set to Begin
The 2026 FIFA World Cup officially begins on Thursday at Mexico City’s iconic Estadio Azteca, which will become the first stadium in history to host matches at three men’s World Cups.
The tournament marks the first World Cup featuring 48 teams and will run until July 19 across venues in Mexico, the United States and Canada.
Infantino predicted that the expanded format, combined with factors such as climate conditions, travel distances and varying altitudes, would create one of the most unpredictable and competitive World Cups ever staged.
As excitement builds ahead of kick-off, the FIFA president concluded his remarks with a simple message:”Let the celebration begin.”
