During a press conference at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on 10/6, one day before the opening match between Mexico and South Africa, Infantino praised Trump's role and defended the organization of the 2026 World Cup.

"I have an excellent relationship with President Trump, and I am very happy about that," the FIFA head said. "Without his commitment and involvement, we would not have been able to host the World Cup in the US."

FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks at the opening ceremony of the International Broadcast Center (IBC) in Dallas, US, on 1/6. Photo: AP

According to Infantino, Trump quickly recognized the tournament's significance from their initial discussions. "He immediately understood the scale and impact of the World Cup and directed agencies to support the organization," the 56-year-old president stated. "Being able to communicate directly with the US President on important matters is key to maintaining a positive relationship."

Infantino and Trump have built a close relationship over the years. The FIFA President appeared with Trump at the White House multiple times, attended the US leader's inauguration in 1/2025, and presented him with a FIFA-established peace award late last year.

FIFA faced criticism regarding the organization of the 2026 World Cup, particularly issues with entry and visas in the US. When asked if he regretted letting the US serve as a co-host, Infantino replied: "I have no regrets."

He acknowledged that difficulties always arise when organizing large-scale sporting events, but emphasized the importance of finding solutions rather than focusing on controversy. "I have organized major events for 30 years, from UEFA to FIFA. Problems always emerge, and our job is to address them," he said.

A notable topic at the press conference was the case of Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was denied entry into the US. Artan, considered Africa's top referee, was questioned for hours at Miami airport before being sent back to his home country due to suspected links with terrorist organizations.

Somali referee Omar Artan (center) is protested by players after awarding a penalty during the CAF Champions League final between AS FAR Rabat and Mamelodi Sundowns in Rabat, Morocco, on 24/5. Photo: AP

Infantino described the incident as "unfortunate" and declined to criticize the US government. "We cannot control everything," the FIFA President said. "Sometimes, it is necessary to remain calm and relax a bit."

He added that FIFA is a sports organization, not an authority with the power to decide immigration or national security matters. "We are not rulers of the world," the Swiss-born leader stated. "Security is always paramount, and we must respect the decisions of governments and law enforcement agencies."

In addition to Artan's case, the 2026 World Cup also saw controversy involving the Iranian national team. Due to political tensions between Washington and Tehran, the team was not allowed to establish its base camp in the US and had to be stationed in Mexico.

Many members of the Iranian delegation encountered difficulties obtaining visas, while some fans had their stadium tickets canceled. However, Infantino views Iran's participation in the World Cup as a success for FIFA. "When people said Iran could not participate in the World Cup, I promised they would come," he said. "I do not know who else could guarantee that under these circumstances."

The FIFA President also defended the currently debated ticket sales policy. According to him, the 2026 World Cup has sold over 6 million tickets, reflecting unprecedented demand. Infantino stated that the lowest price is currently 60 USD, which he considers the lowest price in the history of World Cups held in the US and many other major sporting events in the country.

Regarding criticism that ticket prices were excessively inflated in the secondary market, he attributed the cause to the legal resale mechanism in the US, rather than FIFA's policy.

Beyond the controversies, Infantino dedicated time to promoting the tournament. He called the 2026 World Cup "the greatest event in human history," with a scale equivalent to 104 Super Bowl matches taking place over one month and a potential television audience of 6 billion people worldwide.

"The World Cup is where emotions are delivered to everyone, where people can cry from victory or defeat," Infantino said. "We are facing a World Cup that will break all records."

The FIFA President also praised championship contenders including Spain, France, England, Portugal, Argentina, and Brazil, while suggesting that Japan, Morocco, or Senegal could create surprises.

The 2026 World Cup will kick off on 11/6 at Azteca Stadium, Mexico City, with a match between co-host Mexico and South Africa. This is the first tournament featuring 48 teams and hosted by three countries: the US, Mexico, and Canada.

Hoang An (according to AS, BBC)