FIFA President tells fans to ‘chill and relax’ amid World Cup controversies

The President of the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA), Gianni Infantino, has urged fans to remain calm as the organization works diligently to resolve challenges surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

He explained that FIFA has been in touch with relevant authorities to address issues, noting that while some matters are successfully resolved, others do not work out.

Speaking to the media on June 10, 2026, Infantino emphasised that visa-related issues are decided by host countries in the best interest of the tournament, but vowed to continue working to resolve challenges as they arise.

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“We don’t live on the moon, we live on planet Earth. We have to respect that we are not kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces. We are a sports organization 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. 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 said.

Addressing criticisms about high ticket prices, Infantino argued that World Cup tickets are comparatively cheaper than those for American sporting events.

He added that millions of tickets have already been sold, expressing confidence in a successful competition in terms of spectatorship.

“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 customs. Our entry price at $60 is the lowest of all 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,” he said.

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@espnfc #FIFA President Gianni Infantino spoke on #Iran's issues getting to the #WorldCup ♬ original sound - ESPN FC