Infantino's 66-Minute Press Conference: Key Moments
FIFA president Gianni Infantino used a 66-minute press conference on the eve of the 2026 World Cup to address three controversies threatening to overshadow the biggest tournament in football history. Instead of calming concerns, his performance added fuel to the fire.
The press conference, held in Beverly Hills on June 10, covered three main issues: the denial of a US visa to Somali referee Omar Artan, record-high ticket prices that have priced out ordinary fans, and the complicated participation of Iran amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. Infantino's tone throughout was defensive, at times dismissive, and his "chill and relax" remark about the referee situation drew immediate criticism from media and human rights organizations.
For a tournament that FIFA has branded as the most inclusive World Cup ever, with 48 nations participating for the first time, the eve-of-tournament narrative has shifted from celebration to controversy. The opening match between Mexico and South Africa at Estadio Azteca on June 11 is now sharing headlines with questions about whether FIFA can guarantee fair access for officials, fans, and players from nations affected by US travel restrictions.
Read more about the tournament buildup in our World Cup 2026 two days to kickoff guide and our opening day live guide for Mexico vs South Africa.
Somali Referee Omar Artan Denied US Visa
Omar Artan was supposed to make history. The Somali referee had been selected to officiate at the 2026 World Cup, becoming the first referee from Somalia to receive such an appointment. Instead, he became the centre of a diplomatic incident that exposed the contradictions of hosting a global tournament in a country with restrictive immigration policies.
Artan was refused entry to the United States under the travel ban that includes Somalia on the list of affected nations. He believed he had secured a valid visa through FIFA channels, but US authorities denied him entry regardless. The decision means Artan will not officiate at the World Cup, and FIFA has not named a replacement.
When asked about Artan's situation, Infantino's response was striking. "It is unfortunate what happened to Omar. But we don't control everything," he said. Then came the remark that dominated headlines: "Maybe sometimes it is good as well to just chill and relax."
Pressed by reporters on what he meant, Infantino expanded: "Our world is a very aggressive world and security goes above everything. You need to respect the decisions. When I say 'chill', I don't mean 'chill and do nothing', I mean to trust us."
The comparison Infantino drew was telling. He asked reporters whether they would find it normal for FIFA to dictate to the British government who to allow into the country for the 2035 Women's World Cup, which is expected to be hosted in the UK. The analogy, however, sidestepped the fundamental issue: FIFA chose to host the men's World Cup in a country with a travel ban affecting several participating nations.
Artan's case is not isolated. The broader issue of US visa restrictions has already affected Iran's participation and their fans' ability to attend matches. Our coverage of fans blocked by US visa bans details the full scope of the problem.
World Cup Ticket Prices: Record Costs and Resale Controversy
Infantino spent significant time defending FIFA's ticket pricing strategy, which has drawn criticism as the most expensive in World Cup history. The tournament uses dynamic pricing, a first for the competition, which adjusts prices based on demand.
Entry-level tickets start at $60 for federation-only allocations. However, these represent a tiny fraction of available tickets. For England's opening match against Croatia, only 402 federation-only tickets at the entry price were allocated out of England's 4,022 ticket allocation. The vast majority of tickets are priced significantly higher.
The official FIFA resale platform has compounded the controversy. FIFA takes a 15 per cent cut from both the seller and the buyer on every resold ticket. In May, one ticket was listed on the platform for $11.5 million, exposing the lack of effective price controls on secondary markets.
Infantino's defense was straightforward: "We have to look at the market. We are in the market in which entertainment is the most developed in the world. So we have to apply market rates." He argued that setting lower prices would simply push money to secondary market operators rather than to football development.
"The starting price at $60; the market is what it is," Infantino said. "If you sell it at a lower price point, it would have gone on secondary markets at much higher prices. Where would the money go then? To those who organised secondary or black market activities and not to football."
He emphasized that every dollar earned goes back to football development, pointing out that FIFA has only one competition every four years and invests revenue during the other 47 months. Critics argue that this rationale does little for fans who cannot afford to attend.
For a full breakdown of the financial stakes, see our World Cup 2026 prize money guide.
Iran's World Cup Participation: Challenges Remain
Iran's path to the 2026 World Cup has been more complicated than any other team's. The US and Israel launched air strikes on Iran on February 28, creating uncertainty about whether the team would be able to participate at all. President Donald Trump said "let them play" in March, and Infantino has repeatedly insisted Iran would take part as scheduled.
Infantino confirmed he personally visited the Iranian team to assure them of their participation. "I went to see the Iranian team myself, and when people say it would be impossible for them to come, I promised them that they would come," he said.
However, significant challenges remain. On June 10, just one day before the tournament begins, Iran's football federation (FFIRI) reported that their ticket allocation had been pulled. All three of Iran's group stage matches are scheduled to be played in the United States, adding logistical and political complexity.
Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson said in May that the country will participate but called on the US to provide "necessary facilities without political considerations or motives."
Iran opens their campaign against New Zealand on June 16 in Group G. They also face Switzerland and Qatar in the group stage. The full group breakdown is available in our World Cup 2026 Group G analysis.
Infantino acknowledged the challenges while expressing optimism. "When Iran plays, the stadium will be full and I hope there will be a positive atmosphere. Because this is football," he said. "There are some issues we are still dealing with, of course."
What This Means for the Tournament
The eve-of-tournament controversies highlight a fundamental tension at the heart of this World Cup. Hosting the tournament across three countries, primarily in the United States, has brought enormous commercial benefits but also political complications that FIFA has struggled to manage.
The Somali referee situation raises questions about the integrity of officiating. If referees from certain nations cannot enter the host country, it creates an unbalanced pool of officials. Artan's absence is not just a personal setback but a symbolic loss for a tournament that claims to represent the global game.
Ticket pricing threatens to create a World Cup attended primarily by wealthy fans and corporate hospitality clients. The dynamic pricing model, combined with FIFA's 15 per cent resale commission, has created a system that maximizes revenue at the expense of accessibility. The $11.5 million listing on the official platform demonstrates that price controls are effectively non-existent.
Iran's participation remains the most politically sensitive issue. While the team will compete, the conditions under which they are doing so, from pulled ticket allocations to the broader geopolitical context, are unprecedented in modern World Cup history.
Despite these controversies, the football itself promises to be extraordinary. The expanded 48-team format means 104 matches across 16 venues. Lionel Messi leads Argentina's title defence. Kylian Mbappe captains France. Erling Haaland carries Norway's hopes. Luka Modric plays his final World Cup. Thomas Tuchel makes his competitive debut as England manager against Croatia on June 17.
The opening match between Mexico and South Africa at Estadio Azteca on June 11 will be watched by over 80,000 fans in the stadium and hundreds of millions worldwide. The question is whether the football can overcome the noise that Infantino's press conference generated.
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Sources
- Sky Sports - "World Cup 2026: FIFA president Gianni Infantino says 'chill and relax' after Somali referee denied US visa" (June 10, 2026)
- API-Football - World Cup 2026 fixtures and schedule data
- FIFA.com - Official World Cup 2026 ticket information and pricing
- BBC Sport - World Cup 2026 build-up coverage (June 10, 2026)