FIFA President Gianni Infantino Press Conference - Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico - June 10, 2026. (Credit: Henry Romero/Reuters)
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said on the eve of the World Cup on Wednesday that world football's governing body "does not control everything" when it came to issuing visas and who to let into the United States.
Asked if he felt FIFA had "lost control of the tournament" after Somali referee Omar Artan was turned away at the U.S. border and members of Iran team's support staff were refused visas, Infantino said at a press conference: "We try always to find solutions, but then we need to respect that we are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces, we are a sports organization."
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said on the eve of the World Cup on Wednesday that world football's governing body "does not control everything" when it came to issuing visas and who to let into the United States.
Asked if he felt FIFA had "lost control of the tournament" after Somali referee Omar Artan was turned away at the U.S. border and members of Iran team's support staff were refused visas, Infantino said at a press conference: "We try always to find solutions, but then we need to respect that we are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces, we are a sports organization."
