FIFA president Gianni Infantino mocked British football fans during a World Economic Forum speech, claiming it was 'really special' that no Britons were arrested at the 2022 Qatar World Cup. His remarks came while defending the 2026 World Cup ticket prices, which have faced global criticism for being prohibitively expensive.

The tournament, hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, has seen a fan backlash over initial pricing structures. FIFA was forced into a major climbdown, introducing a limited number of £45 tickets after initial plans saw costs soar by nearly 500% compared to Qatar. Fan groups accuse the governing body of betraying supporters.

Infantino insisted the Qatar event was a celebration and predicted the same for 2026, dismissing the criticism as similar 'noise.' However, the Football Supporters Association retorted that he should focus on making tickets cheaper rather than making jokes. The debate highlights the tension between FIFA's revenue goals and fan accessibility for the upcoming tournament.