Infantino says World Cup will bring fans together across the globe amid intense criticism
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has emphasised that the upcoming FIFA World Cup will be a celebration capable of bringing people together worldwide as the competition gets underway in the United States, Mexico and Canada, despite visa controversies witnessed.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, ahead of Thursday’s, June 11, 2026, opening fixture between Mexico and South Africa at the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, Infantino described the tournament as “a moment of joy, a moment of celebration, a moment of happiness” and encouraged people to focus on the football itself.
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“If you want to criticize me, criticize me. It’s fine, it’s okay,” Infantino told reporters. “But promote the unity of the World Cup, promote people coming to the World Cup, feeling those emotions that all of you have been feeling when you were children, and I hope you can still feel them now because we want to unite the world,” he said.
The FIFA chief noted that the expanded competition had already achieved several milestones even before the first match had been played.
Ticket sales
According to Infantino, ticket sales have surpassed six million, while approximately 17,000 media personnel have received accreditation to cover the event across the 16 host cities.
This year’s tournament will involve 48 national teams competing in 104 matches, with television audiences projected to reach six billion viewers globally.
“We want to host the biggest, the best, the greatest, the most inclusive World Cup in the history of FIFA,” Infantino said.
He stressed that supporters remain the driving force behind the success of the competition, noting that the event’s impact stretches well beyond the match venues.
“The fans make the World Cup, of course, what it is,” he said. “There will be many more millions in the fan zones, fan fests, watch parties, not just in the three host countries but everywhere in the world.”
Iran’s situation
Infantino also highlighted Iran’s involvement in the tournament, describing it as evidence of football’s ability to bridge divides and overcome obstacles.
“When people were saying, well, it would be impossible for Iran to come to the World Cup, I told them and I promised them that they would come,” he said.
“If I had to go with a bus to Tehran and drive them here, I would do that. I’m very happy that we managed to get Iran to come and play in this World Cup.”
The Swiss administrator further revealed that FIFA had signed a memorandum of understanding with FIFPRO, the international players’ union, in a move aimed at strengthening cooperation with players, clubs, leagues and football authorities.
“This is good news. It’s about unity, about bringing everyone together,” he said.
Infantino concluded by saying that the World Cup gives people around the world a chance to temporarily escape everyday pressures and share in the emotions that football creates.
“All these people, they want to enjoy a moment of happiness, a moment where their day-to-day problems can be left aside and they can just enjoy the game,” he said.
“They can just enjoy the game and cry if their team loses or cry if their team wins. Just feel this emotion in community with others.”
The tournament kicks off on Thursday, June 11, 2026, and will run until July 19, 2026.
