On the eve of the World Cup, Gianni Infantino encouraged football fans to “We don’t live on the moon, we live on planet Earth,” as FIFA faced scrutiny from the United Nations regarding immigration issues that have overshadowed the tournament’s preparations.
The FIFA president staunchly defended the organization’s management of the event, particularly concerning ticket prices and visa challenges. He asserted that no other entity could have ensured Iran’s participation, despite the country being at odds with one of the three host nations, the United States.
Infantino expressed that he has no regrets about FIFA granting hosting rights to the US, which will feature 78 of the tournament’s 104 matches, even with travel bans affecting fans from four competing nations and the Somali referee Omar Artan being denied entry at Miami airport this week.
“We have to respect that we are not kings of the world, who can rule over governments and police forces. We are a sports organisation that does as much as we can. It’s important sometimes to chill, relax. We work on everything. Sometimes screaming and shouting does not find a solution.” Infantino stated. “In 2035 we hope the Women’s World Cup will be in the United Kingdom,”
Beginning with a 35-minute monologue, Infantino urged the media to concentrate on football before addressing what he identified as the three key issues: ticket prices, Iran, and immigration into the United States.
The 56-year-old, often criticized for FIFA’s lack of transparency, then provided detailed responses to the few questions allowed over an additional 40 minutes before leaving the stage, wishing his audience an enjoyable tournament.
The exclusion of Artan prompted the UN to advocate for a reconsideration of American immigration policies earlier that day. Nevertheless, Infantino defended the US’s right to manage its borders, despite prior promises that this would be the most inclusive World Cup ever.
“Would you find it normal that Fifa would dictate to the British government who to let into the country? “Unfortunately we live in an aggressive world and security goes above everything. “When I say chill I don’t mean sit and do nothing. I mean trust us that we are trying to find solutions. Sometimes we are successful, sometimes we are not.” he mentioned. “Until today we have sold over six million tickets,”
“The demand has been unprecedented, not by a little bit, but by a factor of 10 or more. “The World Cup is a unique event that takes place every four years, and when you’re in one country you need to deal with local habits and local customs. Our entry price at $60 is the lowest of all the American sports in the playoff phases. Our average price of $500 is lower than the average price for American playoffs. You can at least compare the World Cup with the playoffs. When we put tickets on sale on the secondary market they are sold at a much higher price, which shows the original price was accurate. “What’s most important in all of this is that every dollar we generate goes back into football. If we were selling our TV rights to pay-TV, like everyone else, we would generate four times as much revenue. And we could give all the tickets away, but they would still end up on the black market. “As Fifa president we have to strike a balance. We invest in countries where no one else does – South Sudan, Bhutan. No one else is doing this.”
“I went to see the Iran team in Turkey in March when people were saying it would be impossible for them to come,”
Infantino also robustly defended FIFA’s ticket pricing, arguing that lower prices would likely lead to a significant resale in the black market, noting that the revenue generated is essential for funding football in impoverished nations worldwide.
“I told them they would come and if I had to take a bus to Iran and drive them here, I would. They said they would drive the bus themselves. I don’t know who else in these circumstances would have made sure that Iran would come and play. “I’m very proud of my team and grateful to the administrations of all three host countries. I have a great relationship with President Trump. Without his engagement it would have been impossible to organise a World Cup in the United States. He understood immediately the magnitude of the World Cup and he helped to assist.” he stated. “The demand has been unprecedented, not by a little bit, but by a factor of 10 or more.”
“The World Cup is a unique event that takes place every four years, and when you’re in one country you need to deal with local habits and local customs. Our entry price at $60 is the lowest of all the American sports in the playoff phases. Our average price of $500 is lower than the average price for American playoffs. You can at least compare the World Cup with the playoffs. When we put tickets on sale on the secondary market they are sold at a much higher price, which shows the original price was accurate.”
“What’s most important in all of this is that every dollar we generate goes back into football. If we were selling our TV rights to pay-TV, like everyone else, we would generate four times as much revenue. And we could give all the tickets away, but they would still end up on the black market.”
“As FIFA president we have to strike a balance. We invest in countries where no one else does – South Sudan, Bhutan. No one else is doing this.”
Infantino also claimed responsibility for ensuring Iran’s participation, despite the team needing to relocate their training camp to Mexico, with many support staff denied entry to the US. He concluded with a personal note of gratitude to Donald Trump.
“I went to see the Iran team in Turkey in March when people were saying it would be impossible for them to come,” he recalled. “I told them they would come and if I had to take a bus to Iran and drive them here, I would. They said they would drive the bus themselves. I don’t know who else in these circumstances would have made sure that Iran would come and play.”
“I’m very proud of my team and grateful to the administrations of all three host countries. I have a great relationship with President Trump. Without his engagement it would have been impossible to organise a World Cup in the United States. He understood immediately the magnitude of the World Cup and he helped to assist.”
