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Gianni Infantinos rambling World Cup rant shows FIFA boss has gone full Donald Trump

The FIFA president has responded to his critics and has claimed that the 2026 World Cup was 'outstanding' but his assessment of the tournament is badly flawed

[Gianni Infantino sounded like his good friend Donald Trump during a lengthy rant directed at World Cup critics]

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Gianni Infantino sounded like his good friend Donald Trump during a lengthy rant directed at World Cup critics(Image: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)

Considering the amount of personal criticism he gets, Gianni Infantino is allowed the right to respond. Of course he is.

And the FIFA president can respond in whatever manner he sees fit. Had he responded via a press conference at the end of the World Cup, it might have been better. But if he wants to do it in a 15-slide post on social media, that is fine.

However, his declarations about the tournament are the ramblings of someone who has been made truly delusional by power. Having spent so much of the last couple of years on the shoulder of Donald Trump, why wouldnt Infantino feel powerful?

There are suggestions Trump wants Infantino as the next secretary-general of the United Nations, for goodness sake. But Infantinos lengthy outburst against critics of some aspects of the 2026 World Cup reads like wilfully deceptive propaganda.

We experienced no violence, no incidents, 100 percent safety and security, only joy and happiness! That is one of his declarations in his Instagram essay.

There was, indeed, a lot of joy and happiness, but four people died during World Cup celebrations in Mexico City following Mexicos victory over Ecuador in the round-of-32. Fans from four competing countries - Iran, Haiti, Somalia and Ivory Coast - could not share the joy and happiness because they were banned from entering the United States.

In his post, Infantino says that Iran entered the United States without incident or conflict. Yet it was widely reported that only four of the 15 Iranian team staff members who were originally denied visas were later granted the right to travel into the country.

And dont forget, Omar Artan - regarded as African footballs best referee - was denied entrance to America on the eve of the tournament.

You mentioned the few people denied visas and overlooked the millions who were approved, from all parts of the world, wrote Infantino. Because football unites the world and it was demonstrated impressively this summer.

So, is everyone supposed to just brush aside cases such as the Artan one? Yes, according to Infantino, it seems.

He says critics of the tournament should meditate, pray or watch a football match in order to find peace. He says critics have been spreading hate.

[FIFA referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan attends a press conference after arriving in Mogadishu, Somalia, 10 June 2026. Artan was given a hero's welcome after US authorities denied him entry to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.]

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Top referee Omar Artan was sent back to Somalia after being refused entry into the United States for the 2026 World Cup(Image: SAID YUSUF WARSAME/EPA/Shutterstock)

But no-one is spreading hate by denouncing FIFA for allowing football on the grandest stage to become a game of four quarters. Was there a pundit out there who likes the idea of compulsory hydration breaks?

And no-one was spreading hate when denouncing FIFA for the suspension of Folarin Baloguns automatic one-game ban after the United States 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the first round of knockout games. Trump had phoned Infantino to ask him to review the Balogun ban. It was subsequently suspended, allowing the player to line up against Belgium in a round-of-16 tie.

Indeed, arguable referees decisions or strange disciplinary rulings such as for instance potentially mistaken red or yellow cards or subsequent decisions not to ban players in certain situations are routine and widely accepted in some of the biggest leagues in the world, Infantino wrote. Its curious that the same countries employing these practices are the ones criticising.

[Folarin Balogun of USA during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 16 match between USA and Belgium at Seattle Stadium on July 6, 2026 in Seattle, United States]

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Folarin Balogun's one-game ban at the 2026 World Cup was controversially suspended by FIFA(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

There are rights of appeal in disciplinary processes in club leagues but the Balogun decision was a totally arbitrary one that has yet to be explained by anyone at FIFA. Clearly, it should, though, in the eyes of Infantino, be brushed under the carpet. We should all just chill out and admit the World Cup was great.

To the pens and papers, to all the screens, may you find love and peace where the people behind you couldnt, he went on. May you find peace; we at FIFA have found ours and we deliver it, by delivering the most outstanding FIFA World Cup.

As the final ended in scenes of post-match violent chaos, he really is delusional if he thought that was the most outstanding FIFA World Cup. He has been hanging around with him so much, he has gone full Trump.

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[Andy Dunn]

Andy Dunn

Andy Dunn is the Mirror's chief sports writer.

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