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FIFA President Reassures Africans Over Hospitality Concerns Ahead of 2026 World Cup: “You Are Not Second-Class Citizens”

By Emmanuel Austin Baah
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FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, has sought to ease concerns among African football fans regarding safety and hospitality in the United States ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Speaking at a Nairobi news conference, Infantino addressed worries from African journalists who raised fears that visitors from the continent might be treated as “outcasts” or “second-class citizens” in the U.S.

The FIFA President emphasized that everyone will be welcome, aiming to dispel misconceptions about the tournament’s hosting environment.

African fans’ apprehensions come amid broader concerns about the current climate in the U.S., with a South African reporter pointing out that some people “do not feel welcome” in the country.

Infantino responded by highlighting the recent successful hosting of the Club World Cup across 11 U.S. cities, where fans from 164 countries attended without visa or safety issues. He used this example to reassure African supporters that similar hospitality would be expected for the World Cup in 2026.

“Fans came from 164 countries to the month-long Club World Cup without of course any problems with visas”; Gianni Infantino mentioned.

Alongside Infantino, Confederation of African Football (CAF) President, Patrice Motsepe also expressed confidence in the ability to meet the needs of African fans. Motsepe assured that adequate access and arrangements will be in place to accommodate African supporters during the tournament.

“We are confident that we will fulfil whatever requirements they may have and there will be sufficient access to African fans in the World Cup next year,” Motsepe said.

Their joint message underlined a commitment to inclusivity and equal treatment for all fans attending the event. Infantino described the 2026 World Cup as a critical moment for global unity, calling on fans to embrace positivity ahead of what he predicted would be “the greatest FIFA World Cup ever.”

The expanded tournament will feature 48 teams and be played across 11 U.S. cities, with additional matches in Mexico and Canada. The event is expected to host at least nine African nations.

Tickets for all 104 matches are set to go on sale on September 10, marking the start of preparations for a highly anticipated global football festival.

The tournament aims not only to showcase top-tier soccer but also to foster international friendship and harmony through sport, addressing and overcoming concerns raised by fans from Africa and other parts of the world.

Author

  • My name is Emmanuel Austin Baah, professionally known as “Okocha”. I am a seasoned Ghanaian journalist, broadcaster and football commentator from Senya Bereku in the Central Region. My work reflects a strong commitment to factual reporting, ethical journalism and the continuous promotion of Ghanaian sports.

    I am currently pursuing my studies at Cape Coast Technical University, building on a solid foundation of media practice and communication. I previously served as a sports producer at Radio Gold (90.5) and Montie FM (100.1) in Accra, where I was actively involved in editorial planning, programme production, live commentary and in-depth sports analysis.

    Presently, I am a Senior Writer at SportsNetGhana.com, a role in which I produce well-researched features, match reports, athlete profiles and analytical pieces. My work consistently highlights emerging talents, captures key sporting developments and contributes to shaping informed sports discourse in Ghana.

    Over the course of my career, I have covered numerous major sporting events both locally and internationally. Among these, the highlight remains my coverage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, a significant milestone that strengthened my expertise in global football reporting and enhanced my understanding of international sports dynamics.

    I am widely recognised for my clarity of analysis, engaging commentary style and strong command of both local and global football trends. Beyond the newsroom, I participate in community initiatives aimed at developing young sports journalists and promoting youth engagement in sports.

    For professional engagements, media collaborations or enquiries, please contact me on 0265284330.

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Emmanuel Austin Baah 1201 posts 1 comments

My name is Emmanuel Austin Baah, professionally known as “Okocha”. I am a seasoned Ghanaian journalist, broadcaster and football commentator from Senya Bereku in the Central Region. My work reflects a strong commitment to factual reporting, ethical journalism and the continuous promotion of Ghanaian sports.

I am currently pursuing my studies at Cape Coast Technical University, building on a solid foundation of media practice and communication. I previously served as a sports producer at Radio Gold (90.5) and Montie FM (100.1) in Accra, where I was actively involved in editorial planning, programme production, live commentary and in-depth sports analysis.

Presently, I am a Senior Writer at SportsNetGhana.com, a role in which I produce well-researched features, match reports, athlete profiles and analytical pieces. My work consistently highlights emerging talents, captures key sporting developments and contributes to shaping informed sports discourse in Ghana.

Over the course of my career, I have covered numerous major sporting events both locally and internationally. Among these, the highlight remains my coverage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, a significant milestone that strengthened my expertise in global football reporting and enhanced my understanding of international sports dynamics.

I am widely recognised for my clarity of analysis, engaging commentary style and strong command of both local and global football trends. Beyond the newsroom, I participate in community initiatives aimed at developing young sports journalists and promoting youth engagement in sports.

For professional engagements, media collaborations or enquiries, please contact me on 0265284330.

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