🔻Gianni Infantino, the FIFA president, launched a sharp attack on critics of the 2026 World Cup in an open letter, accusing them of spreading “hate and false rumors.” The tournament, hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, and which ended with Spain winning, has been described by the FIFA president as a symbol of “unity, security and acceptance of diversity.”

🔹In part of this letter, Infantino wrote about the presence of the Iran national team and the limitations faced by that team: “While you were spreading hatred, we tirelessly worked to bring two countries at war together. Iran entered the United States without any incident or confrontation. When the Iran team began to play, all the chants against it turned into a single chorus. The fans became of their own country; they became the team and stood behind the national team. This is the power of football. The Iran team received entry visas because football is about peace, not politics. Football is about unity, not division. Football is bigger than hate and discrimination.”

🔹These remarks are being made at a time when many opponents of the Islamic Republic, in response to a call by Prince Reza Pahlavi, announced their opposition to the Islamic Republic during the World Cup by raising the Lion and Sun flag.

🔹Read more details on the website