Infantino accuses World Cup critics of spreading 'hate and false rumors' in 15-page Instagram tirade

The Instagram broadside

One week after Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium, FIFA President Gianni Infantino published a 15-page, 887-word statement on his Instagram account and FIFA's website. The post, dated Monday 27 July, accused journalists and observers of being "consumed by hate and criticism" and of spreading "false rumours." Infantino wrote that FIFA had delivered "the best show in the world" and that the tournament brought "100% safety and security, only joy and happiness." Within six hours the post collected over 21,000 likes, but comments were disabled.

“Sorry that you were so consumed by hate and criticism that you missed it all.”

Visa denials and Iran's travel ordeal

US visa restrictions became a running controversy. Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry despite holding a diplomatic passport and a valid visa, with US authorities citing unsubstantiated claims of an "association with suspected members of terror organizations." Fans from Haiti, Senegal, Iran and Ivory Coast also faced travel bans. Iran's national team was forced to relocate its training camp from Tucson, Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, and had to cross the border for each match. Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei called his side the "most oppressed" at the World Cup. Infantino dismissed the criticism, claiming Iran "entered the United States without incident or conflict" and that detractors overlooked the millions of visas that were approved.

“While you spread hatred, we worked tirelessly to unite two countries at war.”

The Balogun red card and Trump's intervention

The tournament's biggest disciplinary storm erupted when US striker Folarin Balogun received a red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina, triggering an automatic one-match ban. After President Donald Trump personally lobbied FIFA, the suspension was lifted, allowing Balogun to play in a knockout match against Belgium. Infantino defended the decision, arguing that "potentially mistaken red or yellow cards or subsequent decisions not to ban players in certain situations are routine and widely accepted in some of the biggest leagues worldwide." He accused the countries complaining of hypocrisy.

Commercial breaks and other criticisms

The expanded 48-team World Cup featured commercial breaks in play midway through each half of all 104 matches. Ticket prices were described as unprecedented. Infantino brushed aside every complaint, insisting the event had "no violence, no incidents, 100% safety and security, only joy and happiness." German media noted that the statement's tone echoed Trump's communication style, with Focus calling Infantino a "billige Trump-Kopie" (cheap Trump copy).

Infantino's advice to critics

Infantino recommended that his detractors "meditate, pray or watch a football match" instead of spreading hate. He contrasted FIFA's work on the front lines with critics hiding behind screens. His eve-of-tournament news conference in Mexico City had been his first full gathering of international media since March 2023; there he suggested critics should "chill, relax." After the final, he held no press conference, opting for the Instagram post instead.