FIFA President Gianni Infantino has urged football fans to remain patient as FIFA works to address challenges and controversies surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking to the media on June 10, 2026, Infantino said FIFA is in constant contact with relevant authorities to resolve issues affecting the tournament, including visa-related concerns.
He noted that while some problems are successfully resolved, others are beyond FIFA’s control because immigration and security decisions ultimately rest with host governments.
“We don’t live on the moon, we live on planet Earth. We have to respect that we are not kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces. We are a sports organization that does as much as we can,” he said.
Infantino called on fans to remain calm and trust FIFA’s efforts to find solutions.
“It’s important sometimes to chill, relax. We work on everything. Sometimes screaming and shouting does not find a solution. When I say chill, I don’t mean sit and do nothing. I mean trust us that we are trying to find solutions. Sometimes we are successful, sometimes we are not,” he added.
The FIFA boss also responded to criticism over ticket prices for the tournament, arguing that World Cup tickets compare favourably with those of major sporting events in the United States.
According to him, more than six million tickets have already been sold, with demand exceeding expectations.
“Until today we have sold over six million tickets. The demand has been unprecedented, not by a little bit, but by a factor of 10 or more,” he said.
Infantino explained that FIFA’s entry-level ticket price of $60 is lower than the cost of many American sports playoff tickets, while the average World Cup ticket price remains below that of major playoff events in the United States.
“Our average price of $500 is lower than the average price for American playoffs. What’s most important in all of this is that every dollar we generate goes back into football,” he stated.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is being hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, and has faced scrutiny over visa issues, travel restrictions and ticket pricing ahead of the tournament.
