Gullit calls out Infantino as World Cup chaos puts FIFA under fire

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is about to kick off, yet controversy is already threatening to steal the spotlight from football itself.

As criticism surrounding the tournament continues to mount, FIFA president Gianni Infantino finds himself under growing pressure over a series of disputes that have raised questions about accessibility, inclusivity and the organisation's overall preparedness for the sport's biggest event.

Among the most outspoken critics is former Dutch star Ruud Gullit, who believes the World Cup is drifting away from its fundamental purpose.

In a strongly worded intervention, Gullit argued that FIFA must take responsibility for the growing list of concerns surrounding the tournament, warning that accountability should ultimately reach the highest levels of football's governing body.

"The World Cup is supposed to unite people through football," Gullit said. "Instead, we are talking about travel restrictions, ticket disputes and barriers preventing people from taking part."

At the centre of the latest controversy is Somali referee Omar Artan, who had been selected by FIFA to officiate at the tournament and was set to become the first Somali official to referee at a World Cup.

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Despite reportedly possessing the required documentation, Artan was allegedly denied entry into the United States, subjected to extensive immigration questioning and placed on a return flight to Somalia.

The incident has sparked widespread concern among former players, anti-discrimination groups and football stakeholders, many of whom are struggling to understand how a FIFA-appointed official could be prevented from participating in the competition.

For Gullit, the episode undermines FIFA's repeated assurances that the tournament would be accessible to all participants.

"If those guarantees cannot be upheld, accountability has to start at the top," he said.

The criticism does not stop there.

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Former England captain Steven Gerrard has also voiced concerns over what he described as increasingly chaotic preparations, pointing to reports of ticket allocation issues affecting Iranian supporters, heightened security measures impacting teams and officials, and a growing number of immigration-related disputes linked to the tournament.

"The headlines aren't making FIFA look good," Gerrard said. "This was supposed to be a celebration of football."

Questions continue to emerge over visa access for citizens of countries affected by United States travel restrictions, while supporters' groups have warned that soaring ticket prices, accommodation costs and transportation expenses risk pricing ordinary fans out of the tournament altogether.