On July 27, Beijing time, FIFA President Gianni Infantino published a lengthy open letter on social media, summarizing the World Cup held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The letter primarily responded to critics while affirming the tournament's success and reiterating football's role as a tool for unity.
Infantino's open letter
To all those who missed our beautiful sport, to all the excitement, celebration, laughter, tears, disappointment, and joy. To all those who couldn't see children, babies, grandparents, and parents reunited because of this beautiful sport—I want to say I regret that the competition is over, and I regret that you missed all that joy and belonging. I regret that you were consumed by hatred and criticism, to the point of missing all of this.
To those who hide behind pen and paper, behind screens, spreading hatred and rumors—I want to say that while you stand idly by, we at FIFA are on the front lines organizing tournaments, working hard to deliver the world's most spectacular performances. While you hide in the shadows, we are walking the streets of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, talking to fans, interacting with people, and ensuring everyone's safety. While you create division, we are uniting.
People gathered together like family, like football fans, like a nation. We recorded no violence, no accidents, 100% safety, only joy and happiness!
Seven million people from over 200 countries watched the games in 16 spectacular cities and stadiums: zero incidents, zero hostility, zero violence, only joy, excitement, happiness, unity, and friendship. Everyone felt safe and happy.
Billions of people around the world watched the World Cup from their homes, sharing their love of football with friends and family, and sharing moments filled with joy, excitement, happiness, unity, and friendship.
Almost every world-class celebrity from the music, film, entertainment, and sports industries attended this grand event, enjoying a joyful time with fans and us. They were filled with happiness and joy.
All of this was made possible thanks to the governments of the three host countries and their outstanding contributions, to FIFA and its excellent team, to the host countries and their people, to the police departments and their incredible efforts, and to the volunteers—oh, the amazing people from all over the world who participated in the biggest event on Earth.
Every city is packed with fans from all corners of the world. While they celebrate, you are spreading hatred.
Our world needs love, not hatred; tolerance, not division; celebration, not mourning.
While you spread hatred, we work tirelessly to unite two warring nations. Iran entered the United States without incident or conflict. When the Iranian team began their match, all the boos directed at them transformed into a shared anthem. The fans became a nation, a team, supporting Iran. This is the power of football. The Iranian team received entry visas because football is synonymous with peace. It has nothing to do with politics. Football is synonymous with unity, not division. Football transcends hatred and discrimination.
Visas were also granted to countries facing serious health problems or other challenges. Their participating teams and cheering fans brought hope, even if only for a fleeting moment, to millions of people in their countries, and also brought lasting joy and pride.
You mentioned the small number of people who were denied visas, but you overlooked the millions who received visas from all over the world. Football unites the world, and this summer it impressively proved that.
Or perhaps, when football brings countries like Haiti to the world stage—a country many cannot or choose not to visit—it's time to put down our pens and keyboards and express some respect for the teams that play with heart and fight tenaciously, for the countries that have contributed, for the fans who have traveled from afar, and for the children around the world who aspire to great dreams. Perhaps it's time to express some care.
It is understandable that you are dissatisfied with some of the decisions made by the governing body, but we ask you to consult the publicly available data: these decisions are common in some of the most important leagues.
In fact, controversial refereeing decisions or strange disciplinary actions—such as potentially wrong red or yellow cards, or in some cases, decisions not to impose additional suspensions on players—are commonplace and widely accepted in some of the world’s most important leagues.
Interestingly, it is precisely those countries that adopt these practices that are criticizing them.
This World Cup celebrated the best of humanity. We saw teams from small nations compete proudly in the most prestigious competition. They were confident, professional, and brought pride to their countries. But most importantly, they brought hope; hope that anyone can be a part of the world of football and achieve greatness in the sport, no matter where they come from. We are all the same: fans, players, just ordinary people.
We at FIFA are incredibly proud and moved by these moments filled with love, joy, and solidarity.
To those who waste their time and energy hating us, we urge you to take some time to reflect, meditate, pray, or watch a football match and truly observe those faces, eyes, and emotions.
Because only our beautiful sport can present such an extraordinary performance—a performance that brings everyone together and rediscovers the bonds between people.
To all those who write on paper and in front of the screen: May you find love and peace, while those behind you fail to find it (Note: Criticizing these people for inciting hatred and influencing others).
May you find inner peace; we at FIFA have found our own peace and are passing it on by hosting the most extraordinary FIFA World Cup in history. May football transcend all hatred.
Finally, as FIFA President, I am incredibly proud to have been able to contribute even the smallest part to this grand event. It feels amazing!
Send love to everyone.
