Football will rise above hatred: FIFA head addresses critics of 2026 World Cup
International Football Federation (FIFA) President Gianni Infantino addressed critics of the 2026 World Cup in an open letter published on his Instagram page.
"To pens and papers, to all screens — may you find love and peace where the people behind you could not find them. May you find peace; we at FIFA have found ours, and we gift it by hosting the most outstanding World Cup. May football rise above all hatred," he stated.
Spain defeated Argentina 1:0 in the final of the 2026 World Cup. The match ended 0:0 after regulation time, and the only goal was scored in the second extra time by 26-year-old Barcelona forward Ferran Torres.
Argentina played with ten men from the 93rd minute. Enzo Fernandez received a second yellow card for a rough kick to the leg of Pau Cubarsi in a challenge for the ball. Fernandez had earlier received a yellow card in the 82nd minute for shouting at the referee and demanding a foul.
The 2026 World Cup was the first in history to feature 48 national teams instead of 32. This format, adopted by FIFA, expanded the geography of participating teams and added 40 extra matches, bringing the total to 104. Infantino also revealed that the organization is considering increasing the number of teams to 64.
