Gianni Infantino urged people to “chill” and “relax” about visa problems affecting players, referees and fans trying to enter the U.S. for the World Cup. John Oliver’s reply on Sunday night on “Last Week Night” was blunt: “No f–king way!”
Gianni Infantino told the world to trust FIFA to sort out visa problems tied to the World Cup’s U.S. arrival. John Oliver did not buy it.
On Sunday night’s “Last Week Night,” the comedian and host responded to Infantino’s message with three words that set the tone immediately: “No f–king way!”
Oliver framed the issue as bigger than just frustrated fans. He said fans from more than a quarter of the countries competing in the World Cup were struggling to even get into the country. But the trouble, he explained, wasn’t limited to supporters. A player from Iraq faced issues. Iraq wasn’t alone—Oliver also said Iran’s whole national team ran into problems. He added that a referee from Somalia had problems too. and that the latter two actually had to leave the country.
When Infantino was pressed, Oliver pointed out, Infantino told everyone to “chill” and “relax.” Oliver then leaned into Infantino’s follow-up clarification: “When I say to ‘chill,’ I don’t mean to chill and do nothing. I mean to trust us.”
That’s where the laughter and the anger merged. Oliver said the request made no sense given what FIFA had been doing around President Trump. He specifically referenced FIFA inventing a peace prize to give to Trump. and he argued that when Trump uses the World Cup to punish specific groups of people. telling everyone to “chill” won’t cut it.
Oliver continued with the core of his argument—again refusing the idea of “Trust FIFA.” “And as for ‘Trust FIFA,’ no f–king way! We have done multiple stories on how terrible they are! I can barely think of a less ethical organization!” he said.
He added that he was including organizations like BP, Theranos, Meta and Boeing in what he called his consideration of “worst” behavior—and still said FIFA topped the list.
Oliver also connected Infantino’s visa messaging to FIFA’s political closeness to Trump. “And it’s especially hard to trust FIFA to stand up to Trump given Infantino’s sucked up to him in so many ways. ” he said. “He’s actually made more public appearances in the Oval Office during Trump’s second term than any world political leader.”.
From there, Oliver broadened the point, listing other ways FIFA has acted that he said specifically benefited Trump. He mentioned FIFA hiring the Village People to perform at the ceremony for the peace prize.
By the end of Oliver’s segment, the tension was clear: Infantino urged people to relax and trust FIFA to fix practical entry problems. Oliver’s response made the stakes feel larger than paperwork—turning “trust us” into a headline-worthy dismissal.
John Oliver Last Week Night Last Week Tonight Gianni Infantino FIFA World Cup visa issues trust FIFA Trump Oval Office Village People peace prize
So basically FIFA told everyone to “chill” while people can’t get visas? Kinda wild.
I feel bad for the players/referees, but also like… why is the US making it so hard? I don’t know the details, I just saw “trust FIFA” and it sounded like a scam. John Oliver always goes for the jugular though.
Wait, I thought visa problems were mostly for fans only, like ticket people. But then they said Iraq and Iran teams had issues? If that’s true then “chill and relax” is insane. Also FIFA invented a peace prize??? Like I missed that part.
FIFA and Trump politics aside, isn’t this just bureaucracy? Like shouldn’t everyone just apply earlier? Idk why Oliver was acting like it’s impossible. And “worst organizations” list with Boeing and Meta felt random, not gonna lie. Either way, “trust FIFA” is definitely not something I’d say, ever.