World Cup 2026: Gianni Infantino says ‘chill, relax’ after referee was denied entry to US
The World Cup 2026 is upon us, with the opening match kicking off in Mexico City this evening – after Fifa president Gianni Infantino gave his pre-tournament press conference on Wednesday.
Four years ago, Infantino made infamous comments ahead of Qatar 2022, saying: “Today I feel gay. Today I feel disabled. Today I feel [like] a migrant worker.” This time, he addressed the sorry saga of a Somali referee denied a visa to enter the US, with the Trump administration claiming Omar Artan was sent home because of links to “suspected members of terror organisations”.
The Fifa boss’s response to the problems proved bizarre, as Infantino urged everyone to “chill, relax”.
But while the US’s problems are well documented, Mexico are faced with their own issues ahead of their opener with South Africa, with thousands of protesters blocking the road to the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. After teachers staged presentations on Tuesday, families of the country’s 133,000 missing people took to the streets on the eve of the contest, with a leaflet reading: “The cup came back home. When will our loved ones?”
Meanwhile, England coasted to a 3-0 win over Costa Rica in their final World Cup warm-up game, after a storm delayed kick-off by an hour in Orlando. Once the game got under way, Declan Rice, Anthony Gordon and Ollie Watkins netted for Thomas Tuchel’s side, while Bukayo Saka came off the bench despite injury fears.
Follow all of the latest news and more with our live blog below:
When is Mexico’s World Cup opening ceremony?
Mexico will get World Cup proceedings underway with their opening ceremony – the first of three held by the host nations – at 6:30pm BST on Thursday 11 June in Mexico City.
Held at Mexico City Stadium, better known worldwide as the Estadio Azteca, the ceremony will take place ahead of the Group A clash between Mexico and South Africa, a repeat of the clash that rose the curtain on the 2010 World Cup in Johannesburg.
Additional performers include Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules, Maná, and Tyla.
Here’s everything you need to know about all three World Cup opening ceremonies:
Will Castle11 June 2026 08:24
It is the history of the Infantino
Gianni Infantino has a knack for immortalising his pre-World Cup press conferences, for all the wrong reasons.
“Today I feel gay, today I feel disabled,” were his infamous words ahead of the World Cup in Qatar four years ago, an attempt to claim inclusivity and unity in a host country plagued by human rights violations.
Now, he’s responded to the controversy surrounding the refused entry of Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, the latest instance of someone not being allowed into Trump’s United States for this World Cup, by telling people to “just chill, relax”.
He was never going to be able to quell the scrutiny of this World Cup, but just like in Qatar, the Fifa chief has poured fuel on the fire.
Here’s what The Independent’s chief football writer Miguel Delaney had to say about that answer:
Will Castle11 June 2026 08:16
Mexico City hit with protests before opener
The issues in the US are well-documented but fellow co-host Mexico is also dealing with problems.
Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets around the Estadio Azteca in the days leading up to the country’s World Cup opener against South Africa.
There have been ongoing teacher protests in the Mexican capital and, on Tuesday, demonstrations were led by a breakaway group of the CNTE union, demanding a salary raise and the reversal of a pension law.
Then last night, families of “the disappeared” came out to draw attention to the 133,000 missing people in Mexico, with volunteers handing out leaflets concluding with the message: “The cup came back home. When will our loved ones?”
(Reuters)
Will Castle11 June 2026 08:06
World Cup 2026 fixtures: Full schedule, kick-off times and groups
With the final squads being named, teams will now prepare for their first group stage games in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
There will be 104 matches, up 40 since Qatar World Cup 2022, while Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo likely to play on this stage for the last time in their glittering careers.
Here’s how the tournament will unfold across 39 action-packed days:
Will Castle11 June 2026 07:49
Everything wrong with the 2026 World Cup
Months before World Cup 2026 got underway, senior figures within Fifa already found the planning hadn’t been going “as expected”. And that’s saying something. When the hosting of Canada-Mexico-USA was confirmed back in 2018, after all, the widespread feeling in football circles was that it was a return to the “familiar”.
Two of the countries had already hosted three of the most successful World Cups of all, and the promise in the bid-book was that this would be “low-risk and operational certainty”. It of course greatly aided such feelings that another promise was about record revenue projections of $14bn.
Miguel Delaney previews the 2026 World Cup:
Everything wrong with the 2026 World Cup
From unprecedented wars and rip-off ticket prices to Gianni Infantino selling football’s soul and Donald Trump’s determination to create a “Maga World Cup”, Miguel Delaney details how the 2026 tournament has been riddled with controversy
Miguel Delaney11 June 2026 07:46
When is the World Cup opener?
Mexico’s World Cup curtain-raiser against South Africa kicks off at 8pm BST tonight.
How can I watch it?
Viewers in the UK can watch the game free-to-air on ITV1 with coverage starting at 6:15pm BST. The match can also be streamed on ITVX.
Will Castle11 June 2026 07:43
How Anthony Gordon’s late dash answered England’s toughest question for World Cup 2026 opener
When Anthony Gordon joined Barcelona, the surprisingly good Spanish he spoke at his unveiling was, he said, a product of his dream to play for them. There are times when it seems his rise has been underpinned by ambition. Gordon may be a great self-improver, the scrawny kid who can hassles and harry defenders. But he has also coveted some of the trappings of stardom: the No 10 shirt, the penalties, the move to the glamour clubs.
And so it was that when Eberechi Eze’s shot was handled that Gordon stepped forward in the Three Lions’ final preparation before the World Cup 2026 starts. He would not have done had Harry Kane still been on the field, but the England captain had departed a few minutes earlier. But Gordon can capitalise on the departure of penalty takers.
When Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson, each capable of excelling from 12 yards, left Newcastle in the same summer, it provided an opportunity for Gordon. He saw an opening. He had the self-belief; some would say the greed. A dispute with Kieran Trippier in a rout of Qarabag came from a personal greed for goals, Gordon taking his second spot kick of the evening when Nick Woltemade seemed to need a goal more. The fact he scored 10 goals in the Champions League this season owed something to the fact five were spot kicks.
Richard Jolly delves into Anthony Gordon after England rounded off their World Cup preparations with a 3-0 win over Costa Rica:
Richard Jolly11 June 2026 07:37
Gianni Infantino’s Trumpian ramble is shambolic start to World Cup
As the stand-out line – outside the Fifa president praising himself for the “impossible” of ensuring Iran play – “just chill” wasn’t quite up there with all of Infantino’s feelings from four years ago.
It also meant this didn’t really live up to billing, even if it did inadvertently say more than the actual words intended.
Read more from Miguel Delaney:
Miguel Delaney11 June 2026 07:35
Welcome!
Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of everything World Cup related, as the tournament get underway this evening!
Mexico play host to South Africa in a repeat of the 2010 opener in Johannesburg, only with the role of home nation flipped.
That game gave us one of the all-time World Cup moments – “TSHABALALAAAAAA!!!” – so let’s hope after last night’s disastrous Gianni Infantino press conference, we can get things off on a right note.
(Reuters)
Will Castle11 June 2026 07:31
