Infantino tells football critics to meditate or watch the game

In a 15‑slide Instagram post that spread to FIFA’s eight‑million‑strong feed, Infantino announced that critics who “plant seeds of hate” should meditate, pray or simply watch a football match instead of spreading false rumours.

He called the 2026 World Cup a celebration of humanity—highlighting zero incidents, no violence and “only joy and happiness” across the 32‑team tournament. Infantino also brushed past the high‑profile controversies, proudly noting Iran’s participation despite the U.S.–Iran conflict, claiming FIFA had “worked tirelessly to unite two countries at war.”

The post touched on political interference in officiating, naming a U.S. presidential involvement that allowed a U.S. forward to play in a match after a red‑card suspension was lifted. Infantino said such interventions were “routine” in major leagues and criticized the countries that highlighted these complaints for being the very ones that practise them.

While FIFA insists the event was safe, other controversies continued: visa denials for Iranian staff, the revocation of tickets for Iranian fans, and travel restrictions for teams from Haiti, Senegal and Ivory Coast. Infantino’s message also described investigations into Argentina‑Spain on‑field altercations and alleged racist abuse toward an influencer, as well as ICE officials’ presence at stadiums.

Despite the arguments, Infantino concluded that football “makes us one” and called on those who miss the sport to experience the emotions, laughter and unity shown in the games. He added that the World Cup, by virtue of being the world’s biggest sporting event, brings humanity together and should stand against hate and division.