Published On 11/6/2026
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Last update: 03:21 (Mecca time)
Hours before the start of the 2026 World Cup, FIFA President Gianni Infantino spoke about thorny issues that included criticism directed at the tournament, entry problems for the United States, in addition to Iran’s participation, the role of the American president, and the rise in match ticket prices.
In a press conference from Mexico City, on Wednesday, on the eve of the opening match at the Mexico City Azteca Stadium, Infantino strongly defended organizing the expanded edition with the participation of 48 teams, hosted jointly by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
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Infantino confirmed that ticket prices, which in some cases exceeded $30,000, were set appropriately, noting that a limited number of tickets were offered at $60 in response to criticism.
“Let me stress that our entry price, $60, is the lowest of any American sport in the knockout stages,” he said.
He added: “Our average prices, which are less than $500, are also the lowest compared to other American sports on average.”
Infantino and FIFA were subjected to severe criticism over the exorbitant prices of World Cup tickets, while the tough immigration campaign led by US President Donald Trump led to the refusal of a prominent referee, Iranian national team officials and fans from entering the United States.
Infantino downplayed the controversy surrounding Somali referee Omar Arten, who was banned from entering the United States after arriving in Miami last Saturday, following security concerns raised by American immigration authorities.
FIFA later confirmed that Aartan would not participate in the tournament, while saying in the press conference that “what happened to the Somali referee is regrettable.”
He added: “We do not control everything. Sometimes it is good to wait and relax. We are working on everything and trying to solve everything.”
He continued, in a tone that the French news agency described as a tone of challenge: “Sometimes, immediately starting to scream and protest may lead to adverse results in finding a solution.”
The FIFA President also considered that Iran’s participation in the World Cup, despite its military conflict with the United States, represents an achievement for his organization.
He said: “There were those who said that Iran could not participate in the World Cup… There are challenges, it is not easy, but I do not know who else could have guaranteed, in these circumstances, which we cannot influence, Iran’s participation and participation in the matches.”
Infantino’s close relationship with US President Trump was also subject to scrutiny before the start of the tournament.
However, Infantino stressed that Trump played a decisive role in the preparations.
He said: “Without his involvement and participation, I believe it would have been simply impossible to organize the World Cup in the United States.”
In Washington on Wednesday, Trump confirmed that he intends to attend some World Cup matches, without providing details.
He said: “I spoke to Jani this morning… He said there was nothing comparable” to the success of the upcoming tournament.
Unrest in Mexico
Meanwhile, fears have mounted that Thursday’s opening match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City could be disrupted due to social unrest.
On Tuesday, demonstrators blocked a road leading to the Azteca Stadium, but police lines prevented them from reaching the stadium.
Thousands participated in the demonstration after a week of movements that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum described as a “provocation.”
Sheinbaum confirmed Wednesday that “everything is under control” ahead of the opening match.
Climate obsession
The specter of the impact of weather conditions on the tournament also emerged on Wednesday, after England’s final preparatory match against Costa Rica was postponed due to a thunderstorm that struck Orlando, Florida.
Heavy rain and lightning delayed the start of the match, in a scene that brought to mind the problems that accompanied last year’s Club World Cup, where several matches were disrupted due to the weather.
With most teams now arriving in North America, the Haiti national team found itself in the midst of controversy days before its opening match against Scotland, after it was forced to change the design of its uniform.
The Haiti national team was forced to adopt a new uniform after it was discovered that the shirts bore an image of the “Battle of Vertières” in 1803, which secured the country’s independence, in violation of FIFA rules.
