Mexico city: FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Wednesday urged critics to "chill, relax" over travel and visa controversies surrounding the 2026 World Cup, defending FIFA's handling of the issues after being pressed about the denial of entry to a Somali referee by the US and restrictions affecting some teams, journalists, and fans. Speaking to reporters in Mexico ahead of the 2026 World Cup, Infantino acknowledged that the denial of entry to Somali international referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was "unfortunate," while stressing that FIFA does not control sovereign decisions.
According to Anadolu Agency, Infantino emphasized that while the situation involving Artan is regrettable, FIFA is not in control of all aspects and is actively working to resolve issues. "It is unfortunate as well what happened to Omar, the referee from Somalia. But again, we don't control everything... Maybe sometimes it's good as well to just, you know, chill, relax. We work on everything; we try to solve everything," Infantino said.
A reporter challenged Infantino's remarks by pointing out broader concerns over travel bans, visa restrictions, and changes to team arrangements ahead of the tournament. Infantino responded by clarifying that his call to "chill" does not imply inaction. "When I say to chill, I don't mean to chill and do nothing," he said. "I mean, trust us that we are working behind the scenes; we are trying to understand... and we always try to make the situation as positive as possible and to find solutions."
Infantino further explained that FIFA aims to find practical solutions while recognizing the challenges of working with multiple governments with varying policies. "You know, again, we don't live on the moon; we live on the planet Earth, and you have to deal with different situations. We try to do our best. We try to do our best, and I hope we'll have some good news," he added.
In response to the situation, the Somali government expressed regret over the denial of entry to Artan to the US to officiate at the FIFA World Cup. "Somalia will continue engaging with relevant partners to seek further clarification regarding this matter and to safeguard the dignity and rights of its citizens," the government stated.
Meanwhile, a senior White House official defended the decision to bar several international participants from entering the US for the World Cup, stating that the measures are necessary to ensure a safe environment. Artan, who was due to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a FIFA World Cup, returned Wednesday to Somalia from Istanbul.