Infantino dismisses World Cup concerns with ‘chill, relax’ comment

By Evelyn Mensah — 10 June 2026 — 5 min read

Infantino’s press conference at Azteca Stadium

Fifa President Gianni Infantino addressed concerns surrounding the upcoming World Cup during a press conference at the Azteca Stadium. On the eve of the opening match between Mexico and South Africa, Infantino suggested a relaxed approach to recent controversies, stating, “Just, you know, chill, relax.” This sentiment was expressed despite several incidents impacting the tournament’s preparations.

Among the issues highlighted were a referee being denied entry to the United States, an Iraq striker questioned at a Chicago airport, and Iran being compelled to relocate its base to Mexico. Additionally, Iranian fans reportedly had their tickets cancelled by US authorities, and members of their delegation were refused visas. These events occurred as the tournament approaches its start.

Infantino’s remarks came after Somali referee Omar Artan was reportedly expelled following an 11-hour interrogation at Miami International Airport. Artan was accused by a US official of having alleged links to terrorists in his home country. Infantino described the incident as “unfortunate” and acknowledged that Fifa does not control every aspect, stating, “We try, we’ll discuss, we’ll speak, we’ll see. Maybe sometimes it’s good as well to just, you know, chill, relax.”

The Fifa president offered no direct words of support for Artan, who returned to Mogadishu, Somalia, after the incident. When questioned about other visa issues affecting fans and team delegates, Infantino redirected the discussion to the 2035 Women’s World Cup, which is anticipated to be awarded to the United Kingdom. He posed a rhetorical question about whether Fifa should dictate entry policies to the British government.

Comparisons and challenges

A similar situation occurred when England hosted the World Cup in 1966, where the UK government considered denying entry to communist North Korea. Concessions were eventually made after the Football Association warned of the risk of losing the World Cup. In contrast, Indonesia was stripped of its hosting rights for the 2023 U-20 World Cup after stating that Israel would not be permitted entry. However, when the United States makes similar decisions impacting competing nations like Iran, Fifa has stated it is powerless.

Infantino emphasized the importance of respecting security decisions, noting, “Unfortunately, our world is, you know, a very aggressive world, and security goes above everything.” He clarified that his “chill” comment did not imply inaction, but rather an acknowledgment of Fifa’s limitations. “We need to respect that we are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces,” he added, describing Fifa as a sports organization doing its best with available resources.

Despite the challenges, Iran has been granted permission to enter the US for their three World Cup group games. However, they were informed they could not stay in America and would need to be based in Mexico, requiring them to travel in and out of the US within 24 hours for each match. Infantino viewed this as a triumph, stating, “When people were saying it would be impossible for Iran to come to the World Cup, I promised them that they would come.” He questioned who else could have ensured Iran’s participation under such circumstances.

Ticket pricing and US relations

The Fifa president also addressed accusations regarding ticket prices, which some claim have been “artificially inflated” and misleading to fans. Infantino defended the pricing structure, asserting that Fifa consults with “the best lawyers, with the best experts.” He dismissed investigations into ticket pricing by attorneys general from California, New Jersey, New York, and Texas as being based on a small number of complaints, stating, “three, not 3,000.”

Infantino maintained that the pricing was “accurate” for the North American market, citing “unprecedented” demand. He also stressed that Fifa has a limited opportunity every four years to generate revenue for global football. He compared the World Cup’s importance to other major US events, such as the NBA Finals featuring teams like the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs, to justify the pricing.

Fifa has faced criticism for allegedly losing control of its own World Cup and for not securing tangible concessions from the US government, particularly concerning its anti-immigration policies. Given the opportunity to question the handling of these matters, Infantino reiterated his support for US President Donald Trump. He stated, “I don’t regret anything” regarding the World Cup being held in the United States and highlighted his “great relationship” with Trump.

Infantino credited Trump’s engagement and involvement, suggesting that without his help, organizing a World Cup in the United States “would have been impossible.” He noted that Trump “understood immediately the magnitude of the World Cup” and instructed his administration to provide assistance. Infantino described their relationship as positive, characterized by open exchanges on important topics without asking for anything in return. This perspective may not resonate with those who have experienced complications entering the United States for the tournament.

Infantino’s press conference, his first substantial media appearance in three years, was characterized by what some described as a “Trumpian ramble.” He spoke for over 35 minutes without taking questions during a 69-minute session, discussing various topics including a brief history of the Azteca Stadium. He also made a plea for a presidential pardon for French journalist Christophe Gleizes, who is imprisoned in Algeria, referring to him as “the only sports journalist imprisoned in the world.”

The Fifa president acknowledged the three main controversies – Iran, ticketing, and visas – but offered what were perceived as skewed portrayals of these subjects. He asserted that demand for tickets proved Fifa was “correct” in its pricing strategy and claimed a “statutory responsibility to raise the income” to redistribute within the sport, a reinterpretation of Fifa’s statutes. On visas, he conceded there have been “challenges we would prefer not to deal with,” referencing a line reportedly provided by Fifa’s communications team the day prior, which suggested that Fifa would not overrule UK laws if England were to host the 2035 Women’s World Cup.

This approach, according to some observers, avoided directly criticizing Trump and instead illustrated Infantino’s close alignment with the former US president’s orbit. The press conference, held on the eve of the opening match, did not feature extensive challenging questions, with only four being described as testing.

Source: bbc.com