Fifa president Gianni Infantino has published an open letter accusing critics of the 2026 World Cup of spreading hate and false narratives, insisting the tournament—won by Spain and hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico—was a resounding success built on unity, safety and inclusion. His comments come amid mounting criticism over several controversies, including US visa restrictions affecting fans and officials, the treatment of teams from conflict-affected regions, and Fifa's decision to suspend an automatic ban on US striker Folarin Balogun after intervention from Donald Trump.

In the letter, Infantino defended officiating decisions in Argentina's last-16 win over Egypt, which had been criticised by Egypt manager Hossam Hassan, arguing such calls are routine in major leagues worldwide. He also addressed the case of Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was barred from entering the US despite holding a valid visa, and defended the treatment of Iran's team, saying they faced travel restrictions but ultimately entered without incident, insisting "football is about peace… not about politics." The letter follows separate calls from Sepp Blatter and a La Liga official for Infantino to resign.