Fifa president Gianni Infantino has hit back at critics of his leadership and of the 2026 World Cup, telling detractors to "meditate, pray or watch a football match" rather than "spread hate and false rumours". The remarks, posted across 15 slides on his personal Instagram account and reposted to Fifa's eight million followers, defend the tournament as the "greatest event on earth" and dismiss concerns about safety, officiating and political interference that have dogged the competition.

Infantino praised the participation of Iran, saying Fifa had "worked tirelessly to unite two countries at war" and that the team entered the United States "without incident" — a claim contradicted by Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei, who described his side as the "most oppressed" at the tournament, and by reported visa delays, denied entry for staff, and a forced relocation of Iran's training base. He also defended the tournament's record on safety and officiating despite ongoing Fifa investigations into an altercation involving Argentina after the final, alleged racist abuse of influencer IShowSpeed, and controversy over the suspension of USA forward Folarin Balogun's ban following intervention by President Donald Trump, who was awarded the Fifa Peace Prize in December.