‘Chill, Relax’: Infantino Defends FIFA as Visa Row Clouds World Cup 2026 Build-Up

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended the governing body's approach to visa-related challenges ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, insisting that FIFA cannot dictate immigration decisions to sovereign governments and urging critics to remain patient while solutions are pursued behind the scenes.

Speaking at a pre-World Cup press conference in Mexico City on Wednesday, Infantino addressed concerns surrounding the denial of entry to Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who had been selected to officiate at the tournament and was set to become the first referee from Somalia to work at a FIFA World Cup.

A United States official said Artan was refused admission after arriving in Miami from Istanbul because of an alleged "association with suspected members of terror organisations."

"It is unfortunate what happened to Omar, the referee from Somalia, but again, we don't control everything," Infantino said, according to ESPN.

The FIFA chief stressed that the organisation's influence has limits when it comes to government policies.

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"Believe me when I tell you, or don't believe me if you don't want to, but we always try to find solutions, always," Infantino said.

"But then we need to respect that we are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces, and I don't know what. We are a sports organisation, we try to do our best with the means that we have," he added.

"Sometimes, to immediately start screaming and shouting has the opposite effect in terms of finding a solution. We always try to find solutions, always. But then we need to respect that we are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces,” he further added.

Later clarifying his remarks, Infantino said FIFA was actively working to understand and address issues as they arise.

"I don't mean to chill and do nothing, I mean to trust us that we are working behind the scenes, trying to understand," he said, as per ESPN. "There are things we are told, things we are not told. We always try to make things positive and find a solution."

Infantino pointed to FIFA's efforts in ensuring Iran's participation in the tournament despite political tensions between the United States and Iran.

"It has been successful to bring Iran to play in America, I don't know who would've managed to do that ... we don't live on the moon, we live on planet Earth, and we try our best," he said.

The FIFA president also dismissed suggestions that visa complications, including the relocation of Iran's training base to Tijuana in Mexico, had diminished confidence in the United States as a host nation.

(With inputs from ANI)