FIFA President Gianni Infantino Defends World Cup Visa Handling Amid Referee Entry Controversy

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended football's governing body's handling of visa-related challenges ahead of the FIFA World Cup, emphasizing that FIFA cannot overrule national governments or immigration authorities.

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 denied entry into the United States despite reportedly holding a valid visa.

"It is unfortunate what happened to the referee from Somalia," Infantino told reporters. "We are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces. We are a sports organisation."

The incident has raised fresh concerns about immigration procedures ahead of the FIFA World Cup, which runs from June 11 to July 19. U.S. authorities reportedly denied Artan entry due to alleged links to individuals suspected of involvement with terrorist organizations.

Infantino stated that FIFA continues to engage with authorities behind the scenes to resolve outstanding issues but reiterated that immigration decisions ultimately remain the responsibility of sovereign governments.

"We always try to find solutions," he said. "Sometimes to immediately start screaming and shouting has the opposite effect of finding a solution."

When asked whether visa-related controversies had made him reconsider the decision to award hosting rights to the United States, Infantino dismissed the suggestion, saying he had "no regrets" about selecting the country as one of the tournament hosts.

"There are issues; it's normal for an event of this magnitude," he said. "Some come from the United States, some from Canada, some from Mexico. We deal with ​all of them,"Infantino added.

The FIFA president also pointed to Iran's participation in the tournament as evidence of his organisation's efforts to navigate complex ​political circumstances.

"People were saying Iran couldn't come to the World Cup," Infantino said. "I promised them they will come."

He said ensuring Iran's participation despite geopolitical ‌tensions demonstrated ⁠football's ability to bring people together.

The comments come as FIFA seeks to ensure smooth operations for players, officials, and supporters arriving for one of the biggest sporting events in the world.