FIFA President Gianni Infantino lashes out at critics planting ‘seeds of hate’ after 2026 World Cup

Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has shared a strongly-worded message against critics of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Infantino and FIFA have come under heavy criticism over the controversies that plagued the 2026 FIFA World Cup, such as visa issues, outside forces influencing FIFA’s decision-making, and officiating troubles.

However, the FIFA President has slammed the critics focusing on these aspects over the larger collective good that the World Cup left behind.

Gianni Infantino’s 15-slide message to World Cup critics

Infantino started his Instagram message with a ‘To all those who…,’ before lamenting the people who have been wrapped up in the negative news stories since the World Cup ended earlier this month.

“To those behind their pens and papers, behind their screens spreading hate and false rumors, I want to say that while you are sitting behind, we at FIFA are on the front lines organizing, working hard, and delivering the best show in the world.”

Infantino spoke about the unity the World Cup brought across its three host nations and how it was an unprecedented success in terms of security, especially with the Iranian national team playing in the Cup despite being at conflict with the United States.

He also mentioned the billions of people enjoying the World Cup away from the news cycles.

“While they celebrated, you were busy planting seeds of hate. Our world needs love, not hate; tolerance, not division; celebration, not mourning.”

The FIFA President also directly referenced the widely-reported visa issues that troubled team officials from entering the United States by mentioning the millions of people who weren’t stopped.

Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images

He mentioned the refereeing controversies by implying that the sides that are criticizing FIFA also apply the same rules in their domestic leagues, trying to minimize their argument.

This was a powerful message to try and highlight all the good the World Cup did rather than the negative.

It was a spectacular competition, so Infantino had to try to downplay the criticism with such a pointed message.

It’s better to acknowledge the merits of both sides and put the tournament behind us as a new World Cup cycle begins and the European football season is less than a month away.

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