Infantino tells World Cup critics to 'meditate and pray' as controversies mount

FIFA President Gianni Infantino took to Instagram to address critics of the 2026 World Cup, hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. In a post aimed at the organization's 8 million followers, he urged those dissatisfied to put down their pens and screens and focus on the tournament's positive emotions. "To those who spend their time and energy on hating us, please take a moment to reflect, meditate, pray, or watch a football match and truly observe the faces, eyes, emotions," Infantino wrote. He called the tournament the "greatest event on Earth," claiming 100% safety and security. But reality paints a different picture. Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei had earlier openly labeled his team the most oppressed at the World Cup. The Iranian delegation faced severe visa delays, with key staff members denied entry entirely. Similar issues, linked to Donald Trump's administration restrictions, affected fans from Haiti, Senegal, and Ivory Coast. Iran was forced to relocate its training base from Arizona to Mexico and endured strict limitations on movement between U.S. cities during the group stage. Somali referee Omar Artan had his single-entry U.S. visa revoked despite holding a diplomatic passport, allegedly over terror ties. Controversy also erupted when FIFA rescinded a suspension for U.S. striker Folarin Balogun after direct lobbying by the U.S. president. UEFA called the move unprecedented and unjustified, while the Norwegian Football Federation is preparing a formal ethics complaint. Infantino insists there has been no violence at the tournament, though FIFA is investigating clashes between Argentina and Spain players and staff after the final, racist abuse aimed at American influencer iShowSpeed, and fan arrests following the England-Argentina semifinal in Atlanta. Human rights groups have condemned the presence of ICE agents at stadiums. By skipping traditional press conferences in favor of social media posts, Infantino shows confidence ahead of next year's elections. Experts warn that labeling critics as "haters" only highlights FIFA's detachment from real issues - from political pressure and the environmental toll of the longest-ever World Cup to unprecedented fan costs and 27-minute halftime shows.