Gianni Infantino Accuses 2026 World Cup Critics of Spreading Hate

Rather than holding a formal news conference after the tournament, Infantino took his defense to social media, telling those spending their energy hating the organization to meditate, pray or watch a football match.

The Folarin Balogun Ban and Allegations of Political Interference

The most contentious flashpoint of the tournament involved U.S. forward Folarin Balogun. After being dismissed during a 2-0 round-of-32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, Balogun received an automatic one-game ban. However, Balogun was made eligible to face Belgium after FIFA’s disciplinary committee suspended the sanction.

The timing of the reversal sparked immediate controversy. President Donald Trump later stated he had called Infantino to request a review of the case. While Infantino denied political interference, the move drew condemnation from UEFA, the Belgian football federation, and dozens of European Union lawmakers. UEFA described the decision as unprecedented, incomprehensible, and unjustifiable, stating it had crossed a red line.

The fallout continues to mount. The Norwegian Football Federation intends to file a formal complaint with FIFA over Trump’s role in the suspension, according to NFF president Lise Klaveness. This follows a previous ethical complaint regarding Infantino’s decision to award Trump the FIFA Peace Prize.

Visa Restrictions and the Human Cost in Mexico City

Travel bans imposed by the Trump administration hampered fans from four countries: Iran, Haiti, Senegal, and Ivory Coast. Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly questioned why African nations were unable to have their people present during the group stage.

The restrictions extended to officials; Somali referee Omar Artan was prohibited from entering the U.S. on the eve of the tournament due to allegations from a White House official regarding associations with suspected terror organizations. Iran’s national team captain, Mehdi Taremi, described the competition as a disaster because of visa and movement restrictions.

The ‘Megalomania’ of the On-Screen Presence

Beyond the administrative scandals, Infantino’s personal visibility during the tournament became a point of ridicule. Former players Joe Cole and Gary Lineker noted a pattern where the FIFA president appeared on screen during nearly every match, often in the first and last ten minutes of each half.

“Every game, in the first half and the second half, they have to show Infantino’s head on the telly. Just like, you’re the head of the federation, just a megalomania about him: he needs to be front and centre.”

Joe Cole

The visibility was backed by an intense travel schedule. According to the BBC, Infantino took more than 27 flights during the competition, sometimes attending two matches a day in cities hundreds of miles apart. A FIFA representative defended the travel, stating the president strives to visit member associations of Fifa whenever he can.

Financial Growth and the 64-Team Expansion

Despite the friction, the 48-team format—which replaced the 32-team system used from 1998 to 2022—has been a financial windfall. FIFA is projecting record revenues for the 2023-2026 cycle, with 2026 alone expected to generate $9 billion, surpassing the $7.6 billion total from the previous four-year cycle.

Infantino is already eyeing further growth. He told the Swiss site Bluewin that the possibility of a 64-team World Cup will be examined and discussed by committees. He argued that expanding the tournament allows more nations to dream and provides an incentive for smaller countries to improve.