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Somali referee denied entry to the United States, controversy over ticket prices.
Somali referee turned away from the United States, controversy over ticket prices… FIFA president Gianni Infantino brushed aside the criticism on Wednesday, on the eve of the 2026 World Cup, as the French national team settled into their camp in Boston.
Infantino combative in the face of the media…
Rarely has the preparation for a World Cup been so disrupted by off-field issues, between international tensions and the impact of President Donald Trump’s policies, particularly regarding immigration.It’s safe to say that Gianni Infantino was under intense scrutiny during his press conference, which lasted just over an hour at the Azteca Stadium, where the World Cup kicks off on Thursday with a Mexico-South Africa match preceded by a musical ceremony.
The FIFA president notably deemed it “unfortunate” that Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was turned away by US authorities upon his arrival at Miami airport (Florida), even though he had a visa. “We don’t control everything,” he repeated several times, conceding his powerlessness in the face of American policy.When a British journalist asked him about the fact that 15 members of the Iranian delegation had not been granted visas for the United States, he responded with a question: “In 2035, the Women’s World Cup will be held in the United Kingdom. Would you find it normal for FIFA to tell the British government who it should allow into its country?”
Before any other consideration, Gianni Infantino wanted to express his support for Christophe Gleizes, who has been detained in Algeria for a year.”There’s an empty chair, it’s Christophe Gleizes’s, who is the only imprisoned sports journalist in the world,” he said. “I invited his parents to the France-Senegal match, but I truly hope that in a great act of humanity, he will be granted a presidential pardon and that he can even join us during the World Cup.”
Shortly before, the NGO Reporters Without Borders (RSF) had announced that the 37-year-old journalist had been accredited by FIFA for the event.”Victory to Omar! Victory to Somalia!”
Just days after being turned back by US authorities, Omar Artan, named African referee of the year last year, was welcomed back to Mogadishu on Wednesday as a hero.
The difficulties encountered by Mr. Artan sparked outrage in Somalia, which had hoped to send one of its referees to the World Cup for the first time. Beyond that, his case has become a symbol of the tightening of US immigration policy, despite the country being expected to host the entire world during the world’s biggest football competition.”I will be there for the next World Cup” in 2030, the referee stated.
Somalia, whose citizens are subject to a travel ban to the United States imposed by the Trump administration, asserted that the referee had a valid visa. The U.S. State Department, when contacted by AFP, responded that he was “linked to individuals suspected of belonging to terrorist organizations.”
Response to criticism of the prices
FIFA’s ticket pricing policy for the World Cup has drawn considerable criticism for its exorbitant prices.
“Our entry price of $60 is the lowest for any American sport in the playoff phase,” countered the FIFA president, blaming resale sites for the soaring prices.
Gianni Infantino, often mocked for his close ties to the US president, also praised Donald Trump’s “commitment and involvement,” asserting that without him, it would have been “impossible to host a World Cup in the United States.”France arrives, Mexico is ready
The French team, runners-up four years ago in Qatar, arrived in Boston this afternoon, six days before their opening match against Senegal.
On the eve of the tournament’s opening, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum asserted that everything was “under control” amidst ongoing teacher protests.
However, if there’s one thing the organizers can’t control, it’s the weather, which could play spoiler during the tournament. On Wednesday, England’s final warm-up match against Costa Rica was delayed by an hour due to a severe thunderstorm that hit Orlando, Florida.
