In a series of surprising events, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has slammed the critics after the end of the FIFA World Cup 2026, urging the detractors to watch football matches instead of spending time on hating the sport. Infantino shared a detailed post on his social media handle, defending FIFA's conduct during the tournament and focused that the competition should be celebrated for uniting fans across the world.
Gianni Infantino slams critics
Infantino, who did not hold a single press conference during the tournament, labeled the 2026 edition as a celebration of humanity. He also slammed the section of haters, saying they ignored the happiness and unforgettable moments enjoyed by billions of supporters all across the world.
"If you have some extra time, instead of spending it hating, meditate, pray, smile, spend it with your loved ones, or watch a football match," wrote Infantino.
"To all of you who missed watching kids, babies, grandparents, and parents come together for the beautiful game, I say sorry that the matches are now over and sorry that you missed all that joy and togetherness. Sorry that you were so consumed by hate and criticism that you missed it all," added Infantino.
Controversies erupted in FIFA World Cup 2026
Despite Infantino claiming that the 2026 edition was a big success, there is no doubt that the entire tournament faced several controversies. Fans and officials from Iran, Senegal, Haiti and Ivory Coast encountered visa-related challenges because of US travel restrictions, while FIFA also faced heat over its ticket-pricing policies.
Towards the knockout stages, FIFA faced criticism for overturning US striker Folarin Balogun's red card ahead of the RO16 clash against Belgium. The decision sparked claims of political influence after US President Donald Trump revealed that he had a discussion about it with Infantino.
UEFA, the Belgian football federation and other European lawmakers raised concerns over the ruling, while UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin stayed away from the summit clash to protest FIFA's handling of multiple controversies.