On the eve of the World Cup, Gianni Infantino urged football fans to “We don’t live on the moon, we live on planet Earth,” as FIFA faced backlash from the United Nations regarding immigration issues that have cast a shadow over the tournament’s preparations.
The FIFA president staunchly defended his organization’s management of the event, particularly in relation to ticket prices and visa complications. He asserted that no other organization could have ensured Iran’s participation, despite the ongoing conflict with one of the three host nations, the United States.
Infantino expressed that he has no regrets about FIFA’s decision to award hosting rights to the US, which will hold 78 of the tournament’s 104 matches, even though fans from four competing nations are affected by travel bans and the Somali referee Omar Artan was recently denied entry at Miami airport.
“We have to respect that we are not kings of the world, who can rule over governments and police forces. We are a sports organisation that does as much as we can. It’s important sometimes to chill, relax. We work on everything. Sometimes screaming and shouting does not find a solution.” Infantino stated. “In 2035 we hope the Women’s World Cup will be in the United Kingdom,”
Starting with a 35-minute monologue, Infantino called on the media to prioritize football over controversy, before addressing what he identified as three key issues: ticket prices, Iran’s participation, and US immigration policies.
The 56-year-old, who has faced significant criticism for FIFA’s transparency, provided extensive responses to the limited questions posed over an additional 40 minutes before concluding with a wish for his audience to enjoy the tournament.
Artan’s exclusion prompted the UN to advocate for a reassessment of US immigration policies earlier that day. However, Infantino defended the US’s sovereign right to manage its borders, despite previously promising that this would be the most inclusive World Cup ever.
“Would you find it normal that Fifa would dictate to the British government who to let into the country? “Unfortunately we live in an aggressive world and security goes above everything. “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 remarked. “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. “The World Cup is a unique event that takes place every four years, and when you’re in one country you need to deal with local habits and local customs. Our entry price at $60 is the lowest of all the American sports in the playoff phases. Our average price of $500 is lower than the average price for American playoffs. You can at least compare the World Cup with the playoffs. When we put tickets on sale on the secondary market they are sold at a much higher price, which shows the original price was accurate. “What’s most important in all of this is that every dollar we generate goes back into football. If we were selling our TV rights to pay-TV, like everyone else, we would generate four times as much revenue. And we could give all the tickets away, but they would still end up on the black market. “As Fifa president we have to strike a balance. We invest in countries where no one else does – South Sudan, Bhutan. No one else is doing this.”
Infantino also defended FIFA’s ticket pricing, arguing that lower prices would likely lead to a higher resale rate on the black market. He emphasized that the revenue generated is essential for funding football in underprivileged regions globally.
“I went to see the Iran team in Turkey in March when people were saying it would be impossible for them to come,” he claimed. “I told them they would come and if I had to take a bus to Iran and drive them here, I would. They said they would drive the bus themselves. I don’t know who else in these circumstances would have made sure that Iran would come and play. “I’m very proud of my team and grateful to the administrations of all three host countries. I have a great relationship with President Trump. Without his engagement it would have been impossible to organise a World Cup in the United States. He understood immediately the magnitude of the World Cup and he helped to assist.”
He added, “What’s most important in all of this is that every dollar we generate goes back into football. If we were selling our TV rights to pay-TV, like everyone else, we would generate four times as much revenue. And we could give all the tickets away, but they would still end up on the black market. As FIFA president we have to strike a balance. We invest in countries where no one else does – South Sudan, Bhutan. No one else is doing this.”
Infantino also took credit for ensuring Iran’s participation, despite their training camp being relocated to Mexico and many of their staff denied entry to the US. He concluded his remarks with gratitude towards Donald Trump.
“I went to see the Iran team in Turkey in March when people were saying it would be impossible for them to come,” he recounted. “I told them they would come and if I had to take a bus to Iran and drive them here, I would. They said they would drive the bus themselves. I don’t know who else in these circumstances would have made sure that Iran would come and play. I’m very proud of my team and grateful to the administrations of all three host countries. I have a great relationship with President Trump. Without his engagement, it would have been impossible to organise a World Cup in the United States. He understood immediately the magnitude of the World Cup and he helped to assist.”
