Infantino Regrets US Entry Denial for Referee, but Says "We Are Not 'Kings'"

Gianni Infantino, president of the International Association Football Federation (FIFA), expressed regret over a Somali referee being denied entry into the United States ahead of the opening of the 2026 World Cup, but lamented that FIFA cannot control everything.

During the opening press conference for the 2026 World Cup held at Mexico City Stadium on Thursday (KST), Infantino said, "What happened to the Somali referee is regrettable, but we cannot control everything," adding, "We will do our best to discuss it and see."

The World Cup, which kicks off at 4 a.m. on Friday (June 12) at Mexico City Stadium with the Group A opening match between Mexico and South Africa, is the largest ever, co-hosted by three nations for the first time and expanded to 48 participating teams.

However, the tournament has faced criticism for being politicized by U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration, while the commercialism stemming from the event's massive scale is also drawing daily scrutiny.

Perhaps mindful of these issues, Infantino first shared his thoughts on current matters through a speech before taking questions from reporters at the press conference.

The scene was reminiscent of the opening press conference of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, where he directly countered criticisms regarding host country Qatar's human rights record and the controversy surrounding the participation of Iran—which faced calls for expulsion over women's rights issues—calling Western criticism of Qatar "hypocrisy."

However, Infantino's solo opening remarks, which lasted about an hour in Qatar, were shortened to around 30 minutes this time, with the entire press conference lasting just over an hour.

He boiled down the frequently discussed issues ahead of this tournament into three categories: "Iran," "tickets," and "visas."

The case of Omar Artan, the "first World Cup referee from Somalia" who was named to the tournament's referee list but was unable to participate after being denied entry into the U.S., was also mentioned while discussing these issues.

Regarding Referee Artan's situation, Infantino emphasized, "Please believe that we always try to find solutions. However, please understand that we are not the 'kings' of the world who can dictate to governments or police," adding, "We are a sports organization."

He also noted, "Shouting and getting angry can sometimes be counterproductive to finding solutions," adding, "Sometimes it is better to calm down and 'relax.'"

When a British BBC reporter asked a question regarding this, Infantino reacted sharply, saying, "It has not been decided yet, but it seems highly likely that the Women's World Cup will be held in the UK in 2035. At that time, do you think it would be normal for FIFA to instruct the British government to let someone in, or not let them in?"

Regarding Iran, he stated, "I promised that the Iranian national team would come to the tournament. I am truly happy that the Iranian team is able to participate in the World Cup," adding, "I am proud of our (FIFA) team's achievements."

Iran, placed in Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand, is scheduled to play all three of its group stage matches in the United States. However, due to rising tensions in the aftermath of a war between the two nations, their base camp was changed from the U.S. to Mexico.

Although they dramatically received the visas required to enter the U.S. after much difficulty, they are reportedly facing restrictions on the duration of their permitted stay.

Infantino shared, "People said Iran wouldn't be able to participate in the World Cup, but I promised that the Iranian team would come. I said that if necessary, I would personally take a bus to Tehran to bring the players."

He continued, "There are many difficulties and it is not easy, but under these unavoidable circumstances, I don't know who else but me could have made it possible for Iran to come and play."

He added, "The Iranian team's matches will be sold out, and I hope a positive atmosphere will be created. Because football is about people forgetting reality and focusing on the game and the team."

During the Q&A session with reporters, when asked if he regretted the U.S. becoming a co-host, Infantino replied, "I don't regret it. I have been organizing events for the past 30 years and am used to handling various issues."

Recalling the Qatar World Cup press conference, he said, "The problems back then were probably bigger than now. Having issues arise is common in events of this scale," adding, "Problems occur in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico alike. It might be impossible to solve everything, but we just do our best."

Regarding President Trump, he expressed the view that "without his involvement and support, we would not have been able to host the World Cup in the United States."

FIFA had previously created a "Peace Award" and presented it to President Trump during the World Cup draw ceremony held in December last year.

The tournament has also faced concerns over ticket sales amid criticism that ticket prices are excessively high.

In response, Infantino argued, "If we are wrong, then everyone in North America is wrong."

The lowest ticket price for this tournament is $140 (approximately 210,000 won), and with the introduction of a dynamic pricing system that fluctuates ticket prices based on demand, the cheapest ticket for the final match is reportedly over $4,000.

As criticism persisted, FIFA also issued new $60 tickets to national football associations.

He said, "Sixty dollars is the lowest among any playoff-stage matches in all U.S. sports. The average ticket price (for the World Cup) is also under $500, making it the cheapest among U.S. sports events."

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.