FIFA president’s ‘zero incidents’ World Cup claim faces backlash, raising questions about crypto partnerships

FIFA President Gianni Infantino stood before cameras on July 27 and declared the 2026 World Cup had recorded “zero incidents, zero hostility, zero violence.” He described the tournament as a celebration of “joy, emotions, happiness, unity, and togetherness,” drawing seven million fans from over 200 countries across North American venues. Multiple reports from observers, journalists, and attendees tell a very different story, one involving documented racial incidents, violence, and security concerns that unfolded throughout the tournament. The gap between narrative and reality Infantino’s statement wasn’t a casual aside. It was a deliberate framing of the World Cup as achieving “100 percent safety and security.” Reports have surfaced documenting at least one high-profile racial incident involving US influencer IShowSpeed, along with multiple other security concerns across tournament venues. FIFA’s crypto empire meets a credibility test FIFA operates FIFA Blockchain, powered by Avalanche, which serves as the foundation for FIFA Collect, the organization’s NFT platform. Since its establishment, the chain has attracted over 85,000 unique addresses. The 2026 World Cup also brought Krake...