FIFA president Gianni Infantino used a lengthy social media post to rebuff critics of his leadership and the ongoing 2026 World Cup, telling those he accused of spreading negativity to meditate, pray, or simply watch a football match instead.
The message spread across 15 slides on Infantino’s personal Instagram account and was subsequently reshared to FIFA’s audience of eight million followers. He addressed those he described as working behind screens and pens to plant seeds of negativity. Infantino insisted FIFA was delivering what he called the greatest event on earth while critics were focused on spreading falsehoods about him and the organisation.
Infantino Defends Tournament Safety and Iran’s Participation
Infantino declared the 2026 tournament a success on safety and security grounds, saying it had produced only joy and happiness. He also held up Iran’s participation as a particular achievement. His argument: FIFA had worked hard to bring together two nations in conflict — Iran and co-host the United States — with Iranian players and staff entering the country without incident.
That characterisation clashed with the account given by Iran’s head coach Amir Ghalenoei. He described his team as the most oppressed at the World Cup. The Iranian squad faced a series of documented difficulties in the lead-up to and during the tournament.
A Different Picture on the Ground
Iran’s problems included visa delays, the denial of entry to the United States for several key backroom staff members, and the revocation of ticket allocations for Iranian fans. Not exactly joy and happiness. Logistical difficulties also forced the team to relocate their training base from Tucson, Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico before the tournament began. Once group-stage matches were underway, the squad faced restrictions on movement when travelling between Tijuana and match venues in Los Angeles and Seattle.
Iran were not alone in experiencing access issues. Supporters from Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Haiti were among those caught up in travel bans enforced by the Trump administration. Somali referee Omar Artan was also denied entry to the US, according to BBC Sport reporting.
La Liga and Wider Pressure on Infantino
Infantino’s post arrives amid broader scrutiny of his position. La Liga president Javier Tebas has publicly stated that Infantino’s time at FIFA is up, adding to the chorus of voices calling his leadership into question during the tournament. The pressure is mounting.
The Instagram post represents Infantino’s most direct public response to that criticism. He made no concession to the documented difficulties faced by several nations. Instead, he framed the tournament as an unqualified success for both football and humanity.
