Infantino slams WC critics for 'spreading hate'

FIFA president Gianni Infantino lashed out at critics of the 2026 World Cup, accusing them of being “consumed by hate” and urging them to “reflect, meditate, pray, or watch a football match.” In a post published after the tournament and shared via his personal Instagram and FIFA’s official channels, Infantino defended FIFA’s management and said critics “missed all that joy and togetherness,” instead spreading “hate and false rumours.” He pointed to controversies including U.S. visa restrictions that affected supporters and officials from multiple countries, the suspension of American player Folarin Balogun’s automatic one-match ban after intervention from U.S. President Donald Trump, and investigations into ticket pricing. Infantino claimed 7 million attendees from over 200 countries and said the tournament had “100% safety and security.”