On the eve of the World Cup, FIFA president Gianni Infantino responds to mounting criticism by telling football fans to “chill” and “relax.” Multiple reports describe his comments as defiant, made as concerns around the tournament continue to overshadow the lead-up. Infantino addresses complaints about ticket pricing and visa-related problems and argues that FIFA’s actions have been handled appropriately. He also challenges critics’ suggestions that FIFA could have managed issues differently. A separate line of scrutiny comes from the United Nations, which is said to be critical of the tournament’s immigration-related impact. Infantino links some of FIFA’s decisions to the difficulty of securing participation in the tournament, including the participation of Iran, which is at war with one of the host nations, the United States. Across the accounts, Infantino maintains that criticism has not presented workable alternatives and presents FIFA’s management as necessary under complex conditions involving host countries, participating teams, and travel and entry arrangements. The reports frame the remarks as an attempt to calm fan unrest while FIFA deals with external and public scrutiny.