FIFA President Gianni Infantino drew attention after making a controversial statement at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
The FIFA president made a sarcastic remark about English fans.
Appearing at a FIFA discussion session on the sidelines of the WEF, Infantino, along with Global Football Development Director Arsene Wenger and former football legend Alessandro Del Piero, shared their thoughts on the role of football in connecting people. In his speech, the FIFA head likened the ball to a magical tool that brings happiness to people of all ages, from children to adults.
However, attention quickly shifted when Infantino mentioned the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He emphasized that the tournament was safe, with almost no significant incidents, before making what was seen as a sarcastic remark aimed at English fans: "For the first time in World Cup history, not a single unruly English fan was arrested. Imagine that. That's special."
The statement immediately sparked mixed reactions. Infantino also criticized the British and German media for their harsh reactions to FIFA's ticket pricing policy. Previously, the Football Supporters' Association (FSA) had called the ticket prices an insult, with the cheapest tickets for the World Cup final costing as much as £3,120.
Tickets for the 2026 World Cup are expensive.
Defending his position, Infantino stated that the 2026 World Cup will release around 7 million tickets, thanks to larger stadiums. He revealed that the number of ticket requests has reached a record 500 million, although he acknowledged that ticket prices are not cheap. Notably, the top three countries in terms of ticket requests are the US, Germany, and the UK – countries that have been the most vocal critics.
In addition, the 2026 World Cup is also facing other controversies, as fans from Iran, Haiti, Senegal, and Ivory Coast risk not being able to watch their national teams play in person due to current travel restrictions.
Infantino's statements, instead of calming public opinion, further fueled controversy, placing FIFA in the spotlight as the biggest football event on the planet approaches.