Infantino blasts World Cup critics over ‘hate’, false claims

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has strongly defended the 2026 FIFA World Cup, accusing critics of “spreading hate and false rumours” while insisting the tournament delivered “only joy and happiness” despite widespread scrutiny before and during the competition.
In an open letter published on Monday through FIFA’s official platforms and his Instagram account, Infantino criticised what he described as relentless negativity surrounding the tournament jointly hosted by