Infantino Tells Critics to ‘Chill’ Amid World Cup Visa Storm

On the eve of the 2026 World Cup, FIFA president Gianni Infantino adopted an air of studied insouciance as he addressed the mounting diplomatic frictions threatening to overshadow the tournament. Speaking in Mexico City, he told reporters that people should “chill and relax” over the case of Omar Artan, a top Somali referee denied entry to the United States because of alleged links to suspected terrorist organisations. Artan, Africa’s referee of the year, had flown from Istanbul to Miami only to be turned back by immigration authorities – a decision that Infantino called “unfortunate” but ultimately beyond FIFA’s remit. As he was rebuffed on American soil, Artan received a hero’s welcome upon returning to Mogadishu, a contrast that laid bare the gulf between the security reflexes of a host nation and the globalising ideals of sport.

The visa dispute was not the only diplomatic flashpoint. Infantino also spoke warmly of Iran’s presence at the finals, recalling a visit to the national team in Turkey earlier in the year, when he promised that they would make it to the tournament even if he personally had to drive a bus to Tehran to collect them. “They said: ‘We’ll take the bus, and if necessary, we’ll drive ourselves’,” he recounted, framing the episode as the authentic “spirit of football.” In European media, his remarks were juxtaposed with his own boasting that the expanded 48-team tournament amounted to “104 Super Bowls in a single month”, a line that drew as much ridicule as praise.

Viewed from Washington, the Artan case is a straightforward matter of border integrity; the US government retains full authority to deny entry on national security grounds, and FIFA’s frustration changes little. From European capitals and international rights organisations, however, the episode has fuelled broader concerns about the feasibility of a genuinely inclusive World Cup when one of the co-hosts can unilaterally exclude match officials, journalists, or even fans. In Mogadishu, the incident has stoked a mixture of indignation and defiant pride, with Artan’s homecoming hailed as a celebration of resilience.

Infantino sought to deflect blame by insisting that FIFA was doing everything within its limited powers. “We are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces,” he said in a 66-minute press conference that touched on ticket pricing, visa delays, and the logistical complexity of the first three-nation World Cup. Yet his breezy tone seemed to acknowledge a deeper vulnerability: the tournament’s success depends on the goodwill of host governments whose priorities do not always align with football’s universalist rhetoric. As the opening match between Mexico and South Africa kicked off, the question lingered whether the beautiful game could, in fact, transcend the very real barriers erecting around it.