Infantino rant, Trump shock, weather delay havoc - All you need to know on World Cup opening dayGianni Infantino broke his silence on the latest World Cup controversy as referee Omar Artan was denied entry while President Donald Trump is expected to snub USA's opening match in LA00:14, 11 Jun 2026Updated 00:16, 11 Jun 2026Gianni Infantino called for critics to 'relax' after the latest pre-World Cup controversy.(Image: Getty Images)Here is all you need to know ahead of the World Cup opening dayGianni Infantino on Iran: The FIFA president expressed relief that the Iranian national team could participate in the 2026 World Cup despite major political obstacles. At a press conference at Estadio Azteca, Gianni Infantino said: "I promised them that they would come, and if I had to go with a bus to Tehran and drive them, I would do that."Iranian team relocation: Geopolitical issues between Iran and the United States forced the national team to relocate its tournament base camp. The team moved its operations from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico, due to the lingering friction of an ongoing conflict.Donald Trump set to snub USA opener: President Donald Trump is not expected to be in attendance for the United States' opening World Cup match against Paraguay in Los Angeles, leading to a restructuring of the executive delegation present at the stadium. Instead, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will be in attendance, Trump expected to be in Washington D.C. on Friday to attend some walk-throughs of the weekend’s UFC event that is taking place.Omar Artan entry block: Somali referee Omar Artan was officially barred from entering the United States just days before the World Cup tournament was set to begin. US Customs and Border Protection stopped Artan at Miami International Airport following his flight from Istanbul, subsequently declaring him a national security threat.Reasoning for referee ban: Trump administration representatives stated that the official ban on the official was due to security vetting concerns. Specifically, a White House representative announced that Artan was denied entry due to his alleged "association with suspected members of terror organisations."Somali hero's welcome: After being turned away from the tournament, Artan returned to a grand reception by government officials and fans in Mogadishu, waving Somali flags. Reflecting on the missed historic opportunity to be the first World Cup referee from his nation, Artan stated, "What happened has happened and it was unfortunate. I am grateful for the support Fifa gave me."Gianni Infantino on visa backlash: In response to public anger regarding the Somali referee's ban and general administrative chaos, Infantino urged the media and critics to calm down. The FIFA chief said: "Maybe sometimes it is good to 'chill', relax, we work on everything," while reminding reporters that FIFA does not overrule sovereign police and border administrations.England friendly delayed: Severe weather forced an immediate one-hour delay for England’s final warm-up friendly against Costa Rica at a stadium in Orlando, Florida. Massive downpours completely flooded the pitch, and the venue's big screen displayed an urgent weather warning instructing the arriving supporters to "take shelter" from local lightning hazards.Mexico vs South Africa World Cup opener details: The tournament opener between Mexico and South Africa is scheduled to take place at the historic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, with the official kick-off locked in for 8pm. Television viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the entire broadcast live on ITV1, with the channel's matchday coverage starting at 7pm without any delay.Get the latest World Cup news straight to your inbox by signing up to our Make Football Great Again newsletter now!