FIFA President Gianni Infantino has taken to Instagram to defend his organisation's record during the 2026 World Cup, telling critics to "meditate, pray, or watch a football match" rather than "spending their time and energy hating us." The 15-slide post, published on his personal account, combined self-congratulation with a combative defence of several controversial decisions that have dogged the tournament.
Infantino described the World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, as the "best show in the world" and expressed pride in his own contribution. "Finally I am incredibly proud, as FIFA President, to have contributed, even a little, to this show. It's a great feeling," he wrote, signing off with "Much love to all."
Balogun ban reversal sparks European backlash
The most contentious episode of the tournament involved US forward Folarin Balogun, who received a red card in a round-of-32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. FIFA initially imposed a one-match ban, but reversed the decision after US President Donald Trump phoned Infantino to request a review. The move drew fierce criticism from across the football world, including from UEFA and the European Parliament, which has called for an investigation into Infantino's conduct.
In his post, Infantino dismissed the outcry as hypocritical. "Indeed, 'arguable' referees' decisions or 'strange' disciplinary rulings such as for instance potentially mistaken red or yellow cards or subsequent decisions not to ban players in certain situations are routine and widely accepted in some of the biggest leagues worldwide," he wrote. "It's curious that the same countries employing these practices are the ones criticising."
The European Parliament has since demanded a probe into Infantino's role, with MEPs questioning whether the president's ties to Trump compromised FIFA's independence. The incident has also reignited debate about the influence of political power on football governance, a theme explored in depth by our investigation into Infantino's World Cup empire.
Iran's participation and visa controversies
Infantino also praised Iran's involvement in the tournament, writing that "Iran entered the United States without incident or conflict" and hailing FIFA's efforts to "unite two countries at war." However, this glossed over significant visa problems faced by the Iranian delegation. Several members of the team's staff were initially denied entry to the US, and the squad was forced to relocate its training base from the US to Mexico due to visa delays.
Somali referee Omar Artan, one of the world's top-rated officials, was also denied entry to the US after the Customs and Border Protection agency deemed him "inadmissible due to vetting concerns." Infantino downplayed these incidents, writing: "You mentioned the few people denied visas and overlooked the millions who were approved, from all parts of the world."
Argentina's post-final conduct under investigation
Infantino may have hoped the tournament would end on a high note, but Argentina's behaviour after the final has triggered further scrutiny. FIFA has opened an investigation into the Argentine team after several players and staff were involved in ugly altercations with the Spanish side following Spain's 1-0 victory at MetLife Stadium. The British government has also called on FIFA to investigate a separate incident: after Argentina's 2-1 win over England in the semifinal, several Argentine players posed with a banner claiming sovereignty over the disputed Falkland Islands.
The controversies have cast a shadow over what was otherwise a widely praised tournament. Infantino's Instagram tirade, however, suggests he is in no mood for introspection. "Those behind their screens spreading hate and false rumours" should instead seek "love" and "peace," he advised. Whether his critics will take that advice remains to be seen.
