Infantino Faces Questions Ahead Of 2026 FIFA World Cup Kick-Off

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is expected to face intense scrutiny on Wednesday as the countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup enters its final hours amid growing concerns over immigration policies, ticket prices and security issues surrounding the tournament.

Infantino will address the media in Mexico City ahead of Thursday’s opening match between Mexico and South Africa at the Estadio Azteca. The expanded 48-team competition, jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, is the largest World Cup ever staged.

However, preparations have been overshadowed by the exclusion of Somali referee Omar Artan from the tournament after he was denied entry into the United States despite holding what he said were valid travel documents.

Naija News reports that Artan, named the Confederation of African Football’s men’s referee of the year in 2025, said the experience had shattered a lifelong ambition.

“I am very, very disappointed,” Artan told The New York Times.

“I’m just simply a referee who’s trying to live his dream, the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup.”

The official, who would have become the first Somali referee to work at a World Cup, said he underwent an 11-hour interview with border authorities at Miami International Airport before being detained and returned to Turkey.

Despite the setback, Artan received a hero’s welcome upon his return to Mogadishu and vowed to pursue his World Cup dream again.

“I will be at the next World Cup and will continue to make Somalia proud… Despite what has happened to me, I am not discouraged,” he told supporters and journalists gathered at the city’s main airport.

Elsewhere, concerns have emerged over possible disruption to the opening match in Mexico City following days of protests. Demonstrators on Tuesday blocked a major road leading to the Estadio Azteca before police stopped them from reaching the venue.

The protests drew thousands of participants and followed a week of unrest that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum described as a “provocation”.

Sheinbaum insisted the opening fixture was “guaranteed” to go ahead but maintained her government would not use force to suppress the demonstrations.

On the field, defending champions Argentina received an encouraging boost as Lionel Messi returned from injury and scored in a 3-0 victory over Iceland in their final warm-up match.

The 38-year-old, who had been sidelined with a hamstring injury suffered while playing for Inter Miami in May, came off the bench to a thunderous reception from an 88,000-strong crowd in Auburn, Alabama.

Moments after his introduction, Messi’s through ball led to a penalty, which he converted to help seal Argentina’s comfortable win.

The Argentine captain is preparing for a sixth World Cup appearance and will lead the holders into their opening fixture against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City.