Gianni Infantino tells FIFA World Cup 2026 critics to meditate or watch football instead of spreading hate | Mint
Gianni Infantino tells FIFA World Cup 2026 critics to meditate or watch football instead of spreading hate
The 15-slide message, shared on Gianni Infantino’s personal account and later reposted by FIFA’s official channels, was aimed at critics.
FIFApresident Gianni Infantino has hit back hard at his critics following the World Cup 2026. In a lengthy Instagram post, he told those spreading “hate and false rumours” to instead “meditate, pray or watch a football match.”
The 15-slide message, shared on his personal account and later reposted by FIFA’s official channels, was aimed at critics. Infantino said that while critics were “busy planting seeds of hate,” the governing body had delivered “the greatest event on earth.”
Gianni Infantino defends tournament success
Gianni Infantino described the World Cup as a celebration of “humanity at its best” and insisted the tournament ran with “100% safety and security, only joy and happiness.” Infantino claimed there were “zero incidents, zero violence, just joy, emotions, happiness, unity, and togetherness.”
He also highlighted Iran’s participation despite ongoing tensions with co-host the United States. FIFA, he said, “worked tirelessly to unite two countries at war,” and the Iranian team entered the country “without incident or conflict.”
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These remarks stand in sharp contrast to comments from Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei, who called his side the “most oppressed” team at the tournament. Iran faced visa delays, had key staff denied entry, saw fan ticket allocations cancelled, and had to move their training base from Arizona to Mexico. Similar travel problems affected fans from Haiti, Senegal and Ivory Coast, while Somali referee Omar Artan was refused entry despite holding a diplomatic passport.
Infantino pushed back on the visa complaints: “You mentioned the few people denied visas and overlooked the millions who were approved, from all parts of the world. Because football unites the world, and it was impressively demonstrated this summer.”
Safety claims meet real-world issues
While Gianni Infantino painted a picture of pure harmony, several problems remain under investigation. FIFA is looking into altercations between Argentina and Spain players and staff after the final. Allegations of racist abuse directed at American influencer IShowSpeed are also being examined. Supporters were arrested at multiple matches, including after England’s semifinal against Argentina in Atlanta. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were present at stadiums, adding to the controversy.
Refereeing row and political questions
Criticism also focused on the decision to suspend the ban of USA forward Folarin Balogun after intervention from President Donald Trump. Of 191 other red cards shown at men’s World Cups, only one other player has avoided a suspension. UEFA called the ruling “unprecedented, incomprehensible, and unjustifiable.” Infantino dismissed the outrage, saying similar decisions are “routine and widely accepted in some of the biggest leagues worldwide” and noting that “the same countries employing these practices are the ones criticising.”
A call for love over hate
Gianni Infantino closed with a direct appeal. “To those spending their time and energy hating us, please take a moment to reflect, meditate, pray or watch a football match and truly observe the faces, the eyes, the emotions,” he wrote. “Because only our beautiful game can deliver such an extraordinary show, a show where everyone becomes one and reconnects as humans.”
He added that the world needs “love, not hate; tolerance, not division; celebration, not mourning,” and said he felt proud to have contributed to the tournament.
The defiant tone has been read by some as a sign of confidence ahead of next year’s FIFA presidential election. Others see it as further evidence that the organisation struggles to accept legitimate scrutiny over visa problems, political influence, costs and the environmental footprint of the expanded World Cup.
About the Author
Aachal Maniyar is a Senior Content Producer at LiveMint, where she covers US sports with a focus on major leagues, marquee events, and athlete-driven stories, while also reporting extensively on cricket and global sports. With over five years of first-hand journalism experience, she combines sharp editorial judgment with real-time sports storytelling across platforms. <br><br> Her reporting journey spans leading newsrooms including Thomson Reuters, India TV, BTVI, ET NOW, and CNBC TV18, where she has worked across breaking news, live match coverage, feature writing, interviews, video scripting, and anchoring. This multi-platform exposure has shaped her ability to deliver context-rich sports and business journalism tailored for both television and digital audiences. <br><br> Aachal has conducted and produced exclusive interviews with athletes and public figures such as India cricketer Dhruv Jurel, Indian women’s hockey captain Savita Punia, and industrialist Ratan Tata, along with several emerging and established sports personalities. Her body of work includes in-depth explainers, athlete profiles, emotionally resonant fan narratives, and data-backed match analysis across cricket, Olympic sports, and international competitions. <br><br> She holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune, and believes in reporting that is grounded in accuracy, clarity, and credibility. Her philosophy is simple: sports journalism should go beyond scores and statistics, capturing the human stories, pressure moments, and decisions that shape the game and the people who play it.
Fifa World Cup 2026
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