Infantino claims upcoming World Cup will be most inclusive

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the upcoming World Cup will be the biggest, best, most inclusive tournament in FIFA history, possibly the largest event in human history. He made the remarks at a press conference in the Azeteken Stadium in Mexico City. The opening match on Thursday will feature Mexico against South Africa. Four years earlier, on the eve of the Qatar World Cup, Infantino delivered a similar press conference in Doha. At that time he said he felt Qatari, Arab, African, gay, disabled and a migrant worker. Infantino later explained that his comments aimed to give a voice to the global majority he felt was unheard, particularly the southern hemisphere. He criticised Western criticism of Qatar’s human‑rights record as hypocritical. KNVB director Marianne van Leeuwen said the Dutch football association learned from Qatar that a well‑intended perspective can be misinterpreted abroad. She added that they remain socially engaged but will avoid preaching with a raised finger. FIFA‑appointed referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the United States because of alleged terrorism links. Infantino called the situation unfortunate but said FIFA cannot control every circumstance. Infantino recounted attending an Iran match in Antalya and offering to drive the team to the United States by bus. He noted that the Iranian squad moved its training base from Tucson to Tijuana, that players will travel in and out of the United States on match day, and that several Iranian staff members were denied US entry, though he did not mention these points in the press conference. When asked about visas, ticket prices and former President Donald Trump’s policies, Infantino sidestepped the questions. He told a BBC journalist that the 2035 women’s World Cup may be held in Britain and asked whether FIFA should dictate entry rules for the British.