FIFA president mocks British fans in bizarre World Cup dig

January 23, 2026 • 0 • min read

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FIFA president mocks British fans in bizarre World Cup dig

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has sparked anger after making a thinly-veiled joke about British football supporters during a speech to world leaders in Switzerland.

With the tournament set to be hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, excitement is building rapidly - especially in Scotland, whose supporters are poised for their first World Cup appearance since 1998.

But instead of striking a unifying tone, Infantino chose to take a swipe at supporters from the UK, prompting criticism from fan groups and reigniting debate around FIFA's ticket pricing strategy.

Infantino's jibe at British supporters

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday, Infantino delivered remarks aimed at defending the World Cup's role in "bringing people together," using Qatar 2022 as an example of what he called a safe and successful tournament.

However, he raised eyebrows when he joked:

For the first time in history, no Brit was arrested during the World Cup. Imagine! This is something really, really special. It was a celebration, it was a party.

The comment was widely interpreted as a dig at British supporters, who have long been stereotyped internationally as badly-behaved or prone to hooliganism, despite major improvements in football policing, supporter culture, and stadium standards over recent decades.

Davos speech turns into football 'magic show'

Earlier in the same address, Infantino attempted to lighten the mood with a theatrical moment by holding up a football and claiming it could transform people emotionally.

This is not a ball. Let me show you... this is a magic instrument that transforms people into happy people.

He claimed passing the ball into the crowd "turns adults into children" and spreads joy instantly - a moment that some observers found odd, given the serious concerns currently surrounding tournament costs, travel, and security.

Fans hit back: "Stop making cheap jokes - make cheap tickets"

The Football Supporters' Association (FSA) was quick to respond, criticising the FIFA president for targeting travelling fans rather than addressing affordability.

Whilst we've got Mr Infantino's attention, we'd like to point out that rather than making cheap jokes about our fans, he should concentrate on making cheap tickets.

The ticketing situation has become a growing flashpoint.

With the costs of flights, accommodation and matchday travel already high for North America, fans argue that match tickets shouldn't add even more strain - particularly for those trying to follow their nation across multiple host cities.

For supporters keen to plan early, many have already started checking resale marketplaces and international ticket platforms such as StubHub to get a feel for pricing and availability as demand rises.

Infantino defends expensive ticket prices amid demand claims

Infantino later attempted to justify FIFA's approach, insisting demand has been enormous and suggesting critics would still be attending.

He then claimed the US topped ticket requests, followed by Germany and England - arguing the numbers prove supporters are still willing to pay.

FIFA has stated that its most recent application window saw around 500 million ticket requests, although it has not released a detailed breakdown of demand across the 104 matches or pricing categories.

Infantino insisted empty seats would not be an issue:

Every match will be sold out.

World Cup concerns grow as US tensions rise

The controversy comes as wider concerns swirl around the 2026 tournament, including domestic tensions in the United States and renewed scrutiny of tournament security and logistics.

Some pundits have even questioned whether the US should remain a host nation, following political uncertainty and international travel worries - issues that could particularly affect travelling supporters from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Despite this, supporters are expected to travel in huge numbers.

Scotland's "Tartan Army" in particular has a reputation for turning major tournaments into vibrant, festival-like events, and many fans have already started planning long-haul trips.

What it means for England and Scotland fans

Whilst Infantino may have intended the joke as throwaway humour, it risks backfiring at a time when FIFA needs supporters onside.

With ticket prices, travel, accommodation and long-distance match hopping already likely to strain budgets, fan groups say the focus should be on accessibility - not jibes.

And with British fans among the best-travelled in world football, the reality is simple: if FIFA wants packed stadiums and a celebratory atmosphere in 2026, it'll rely heavily on the very supporters Infantino chose to mock.

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