Gianni Infantino asked whether he is ashamed of the 2026 World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway on Thursday, June 11, but ahead of the tournament FIFA president Gianni Infantino faced a series of pointed questions during an interview.

Details: Infantino was asked directly whether he felt ashamed of the tournament. It was initially promoted as the most inclusive World Cup in history, yet critics have pointed to the United States denying visas to referees, supporters and journalists.

Quote: “Do you think it is normal for FIFA to dictate to the British government who should be allowed to enter the country and who should not?” Infantino responded.

Meanwhile, ticket sales have reportedly encountered difficulties, with FIFA allegedly concealing the true situation. The organisation is said to have created an artificial shortage by launching its own resale platform, which charges a 15% commission to both buyers and sellers.

Reminder: FIFA president Gianni Infantino recently addressed the high-profile controversy involving Somali referee Omar Artan, who was barred from entering the United States by American authorities over alleged links to terrorist organisations.