Infantino joke about British fans was ‘cheap’ – FSA

Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, needs to prioritize providing «affordable tickets» for the 2026 World Cup, rather than making «cheap jokes» about British supporters, according to the Football Supporters’ Association.

During his remarks at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland on Thursday, Infantino expressed it was «truly remarkable» that no British citizens faced arrest during the 2022 World Cup held in Qatar.

The Swiss addressed multiple issues concerning this year’s tournament set to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, including domestic conflicts in the US, potential visa challenges for fans intending to enter the country, and ticket costs.

He acknowledged the criticism leading up to Qatar 2022 but noted there were «almost no incidents» when the tournament began.

«For the first time in history, no British person was arrested during a World Cup,» Infantino emphasized.

«Can you imagine? This is incredibly special.»

In their response, the FSA stated: «While Mr. Infantino has our attention, we want to highlight that instead of making cheap jokes at our fans’ expense, he ought to focus on ensuring affordable tickets.»

Infantino reiterated his stance regarding the ticket costs for the World Cup 2026, which the FSA previously labeled as «outrageous.»

Tickets for group stage matches are priced considerably higher—up to three times—than those for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with the cheapest final ticket in New Jersey costing £3,119.

FIFA has introduced a limited number of «more budget-friendly» $60 (£45) tickets available for all 104 matches at the 2026 World Cup after facing backlash over its pricing strategy.

While speaking in Davos, Infantino acknowledged «tickets are not inexpensive» and admitted that both he and FIFA were «heavily criticized» as a result, mentioning that «the primary critics stemmed from Germany and England, naturally.»

Nevertheless, he justified the prices again by citing the high demand for tickets.

He stated: «Currently, the US ranks first in ticket requests, followed by Germany and then England, because everyone is eager to come and take part.»

Infantino mentioned, «every match will be at full capacity,» although FIFA has not disclosed how the demand for tickets is distributed across the 104 matches and various price tiers.

Leaders in European football are reportedly growing increasingly worried about US President Donald Trump’s ambitions to annex Greenland, a primarily self-governing region of Denmark.

Reports suggest they have engaged in preliminary talks on potential responses by football to this issue. Uefa and the Football Association (FA) have been contacted for their input.

Despite rising concerns regarding the Trump administration’s actions, which include stricter immigration measures, the seizure of Venezuela’s former president Nicolás Maduro, and Trump’s push to acquire Greenland, Infantino asserted that the 2026 World Cup will represent «the ultimate celebration of humanity.»

There are uncertainties about whether fans from all qualified nations for the World Cup, scheduled from June 11 to July 19, will be able to enter the US, even though ticket holders are given priority for visa appointments.

The travel ban, which prevents nationals from certain countries from entering the US, includes Haiti, Iran, Ivory Coast, and Senegal, all of which have qualified and face full or partial entry restrictions.

According to the US State Department, exceptions to this ban do «not extend to fans or spectators.» They may still apply for visas, but «they might be deemed ineligible for visa issuance or entry into the United States.»

However, Infantino claimed that it is «not accurate» that fans from certain countries might be barred from obtaining US visas.