FIFA President Gianni Infantino has strongly defended the 2026 FIFA World Cup, accusing critics of “spreading hate and false rumours” while insisting the tournament delivered “only joy and happiness” despite widespread scrutiny before and during the competition.
In an open letter published on Monday through FIFA’s official platforms and his Instagram account, Infantino criticised what he described as relentless negativity surrounding the tournament jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Addressing critics directly, Infantino wrote: “Sorry that you were so consumed by hate and criticism that you missed it all.”
He added: “To those behind their pens and papers, behind their screens, spreading hate and false rumours, I want to say that while you are sitting behind, we at FIFA are on the front lines organising, working hard, and delivering the best show in the world.”
Defending FIFA’s organisation of the tournament, the football governing body president said: “We experienced no violence, no incidents, 100% safety and security, only joy and happiness.”
The 2026 World Cup faced intense criticism before kick-off over soaring ticket prices, visa restrictions, geopolitical tensions, extreme summer temperatures across host cities and concerns surrounding the participation of nations affected by conflict and health emergencies.
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