FIFA president Gianni Infantino has responded to criticism of his leadership and the organization, accusing opponents of “spreading hate” and urging them to focus on football rather than criticism.
In a lengthy statement shared on Instagram and promoted by FIFA’s communications team, Infantino praised the 2026 World Cup as a celebration of unity, saying the tournament “celebrated humanity at its best.” He claimed billions of people watched the competition and highlighted the attendance of major figures from entertainment and sport.
In his Instagram message, Infantino criticized those who focused on negative coverage, writing: “To all of you who missed watching kids, babies, grandparents, and parents come together for the beautiful game, I say sorry that the matches are now over and sorry that you missed all that joy and togetherness. Sorry that you were so consumed by hate and criticism that you missed it all.”
He added: “To those behind their pens and papers, behind their screens spreading hate and false rumors, I want to say that while you are sitting behind, we at FIFA are on the front lines organizing, working hard, and delivering the best show in the world.”
