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Whole world welcome to 2026 Fifa World Cup, Infantino says amid US visa worries
Fifa President Gianni Infantino, President William Ruto, and CAF President Patrice Motsepe at State House, Nairobi, on August 30, 2025.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino has quelled concerns of football fans being denied entry to the United States of America when the North American nation co-hosts the 2026 Fifa World Cup with its neighbours, Canada and Mexico.
There has been growing concern about whether fans, and even key personnel of some participating nations, will get US visas to be part of the action in 23rd edition of the global football showpiece.
These concerns have arisen following a shift in the US immigration policy after Donald Trump became president in November 2024.
The shift has seen massive deportations of non-US citizens and imposing of visa bans and restrictions on some countries.
"Everyone will be welcome for the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico next year. The US and its co-host have committed to make the process of people travelling to their countries," the Swiss-Italian football administrator said.
Infantino was speaking on Saturday during the CAF press conference held at the Villa Rosa Kempinski hotel in Nairobi.
The Fifa boss landed in Nairobi on Friday night to attend the Chan 2024 which will be contested between first-time finalists Madagascar and two-time Chan champions Morocco at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, at 6 pm on Saturday. Kenya has been co-hosting Chan 2024 with Tanzania and Uganda.
The press conference was held after CAF had sat for its executive committee meeting at the same venue.
Fifa President Gianni Infantino (second from right) poses for a photo with President William Ruto, CAF President Patrice Motsepe (second, left) CAF Secretary General Mosengo Omba (left), and Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya at State House, Nairobi,, on August 30, 2025.
Infantino had gatecrashed the press conference which was chaired by CAF president Patrice Motsepe.
Others present at the press conference were CAF's fourth vice president Bestine Kazadi Kitabala (DR Congo), CAF's fifth vice president Feizal Sidat (Mozambique), CAF secretary general, Mosengo-Omba Veron (DR Congo), and CAF's Head of TV Luxolo September (South Africa).
In his opening remarks, Infantino made his trademark inclusive statements, describing himself as Kenyan and African.
"It is my pleasure to be in my country, Kenya, and my continent, Africa, for the final of Chan 2024," Infantino said.
"We are all CAF. We are all Fifa. We are all football. We are all united," he added.
Infantino also congratulated CAF and the Chan 2024 co-hosts for hosting "excellent tournament" and hyped President William Ruto as "a great football fan" ahead of their scheduled meeting later in the day.
During the press conference, Infantino was also bombarded with questions challenging his and Fifa's appetite for more football tournaments and expanding the size of competitiona they currently organise.
Fans and stakeholders have been raising concerns about the impact the increased number of tournaments and matches are having on players' health. Also, the threat of football fans being exhausted due to oversaturation of football matches looms large.
Yet, when he responded, Infantino hardly suggested a concrete solution. Instead, he talked about finding an equilibrium of all interests.
"We are wary of the football calendar. We are trying to find a balance by engaging the whole world. Finding a balance occupies our time always," he said.
