FIFA president Gianni Infantino has accused critics of some of the 2026 World Cup’s controversies of “spreading hate” in a shocking social media rant.
Infantino faced questions over his personal conduct during the tournament, particularly relating to his relationship with United States President Trump and the circumstances surrounding the suspension of a ban for USMNT striker Folarin Balogun.
The finances involved with the tournament, the introduction of hydration breaks and travel difficulties for players and fans of certain nationalities also marred what turned out to be a record-breaking World Cup for FIFA.
In an attempt to defend those issues, Infantino released a 15-page Instagram statement to just shy of six million followers, with the post also shared to FIFA’s eight million followers, urging those highlighting the controversies of the tournament to “meditate and pray” and focus on all the positives.
The Key Points of Infantino’s Statement
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