FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended the organisation’s handling of visa-related issues and ticket pricing ahead of the start of the FIFA World Cup, saying that while FIFA can intervene where possible, final decisions rest with national governments.
Speaking on the eve of the tournament opener between co-hosts Mexico and South Africa, Infantino addressed concerns surrounding Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was reportedly denied entry into the United States despite holding a valid visa.
“It is unfortunate what happened to the referee from Somalia,” Infantino said, stressing that FIFA cannot override immigration decisions made by host countries.
“We are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces. We are a sports organisation,” he added.
The incident has drawn wider attention to visa and immigration challenges ahead of the tournament, with U.S. authorities reportedly citing security-related concerns linked to suspected associations.
Infantino said FIFA is working behind the scenes to resolve such cases but emphasised that sovereign states retain full authority over entry decisions.
“We always try to find solutions,” he said, adding that public pressure and criticism do not always help diplomatic resolution.
On questions about whether the issues had affected confidence in selecting the United States as a host nation, Infantino said he had no regrets, noting that logistical and political challenges are expected in an event of this scale involving multiple countries.
He also referenced Iran’s participation in the tournament as an example of FIFA’s efforts to ensure global representation despite geopolitical tensions.
Turning to ticket pricing, Infantino defended FIFA’s structure, noting that more than six million tickets have already been sold for the expanded 48-team tournament.
He said the lowest ticket price was set at $60, which he described as competitive compared to other major sporting events in North America.
“If you sell it at a lower price point, it would have gone on secondary markets at much higher prices,” he said, adding that revenue is reinvested into football development globally.
The tournament will officially kick off at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, which becomes the first stadium to host matches in three separate men’s World Cups.