FIFA president Gianni Infantino paid another visit to United States President Donald Trump at the the White House and has also pledged again in the final countdown that the World Cup kicking off on Thursday will be "greatest and most inclusive" ever.
Infantino said during last week's visit to Trump that "America is ready to welcome the world" for the June 11-July 19 tournament in the US, Mexico and Canada.
However, there are doubts about all the superlatives even before the first ball is kicked, with a tournament referee denied entry into the US, the saga around Iran's team, Infantino's general closeness with Trump, huge criticism on ticket prices, and now also a criminal complaint against the FIFA boss.
Problem 1: The Platini complaint
Shortly after inaugurating a few mini-pitches in New York on Monday, Infantino was confronted with the past when former UEFA president Michel Platini filed a criminal complaint in France against his former secretary general Infantino in France.
Platini claims that Infantino and others worked together to exclude Platini from the race for FIFA president in 2016. Platini and former FIFA boss Joseph Blatter were banned from football in a FIFA ethics probe but later acquitted by Swiss courts. Infantino became FIFA president in 2016.
Problem 2: Close to Trump
Trump will present the trophy to the winning team after the final in New Jersey while he received a new FIFA peace prize from Infantino at the tournament draw in December in Washington. This was seen as the culmination of the closeness between the two and widely criticised and mocked.
FIFA has also announced a partnership with Trump's Board of Peace, and Infantino has also accompanied the US president on a visit to the Middle East and to a peace summit in Egypt.
Infantino insists that a good relationship with host countries is needed to ensure a smooth running of a World Cup while for others the "bromance" (New York Times) has gone too far.
"The issue is the extent of FIFA and Gianni Infantino’s willingness to act as a fluffer, ally and de facto propaganda mouthpiece for Donald Trump’s regime," British paper The Guardian said in March.
Problem 3: Getting into the US
The debate over immigration policy is putting FIFA’s influence on US politics to the test.
The US has refused entry to Omar Artan, a referee from Somalia chosen by FIFA to officiate at the World Cup. The reason given was concerns arising from security checks upon his arrival in the US. All that FIFA said was that it is not involved in immigration procedures.
The Iran FA has said that 15 officials were denied visas and its team, now based in Mexico, can only enter the US on their game days and must leave the same day.
Citizens from Iran and Haiti are among those who can't travel because the two are among countries on which the US has imposed a full entry ban. Iran is also in a military conflict with the US.
The global sports media umbrella organization AIPS has said that reporters from Iran and even more from African countries have received no visas or only restricted ones. AIPS president Gianni Merlo spoke of countless cases which were not acceptable and called on FIFA to intervene.
Problem 4: Ticket prices
Frustration in connection with tournament ticket prices continues. The main criticism is on too high prices in general, not enough cheap tickets, the introduction of dynamic pricing in which the price depends on supply and a secondary market with inflated prices and FIFA claiming a commission.
FIFA is now under criminal investigation in two US states over allegations it has pushed up ticket prices by limiting supplies and switching ticket categories.
Fan group Football Supporters Europe filed a complaint to the European Commission in March, alleging that FIFA "has abused its monopoly position to impose excessive ticket prices and opaque and unfair purchasing conditions and processes."
Problem 5: The playing conditions
The World Cup is the biggest in history with now 48 teams playing 104 matches. According to scientists the tournament has "never presented this combination of extreme environmental factors," according to the Sports Medicine journal.
Extreme heat is expected in 14 of the 16 host cities. Pollution, vast distances to travel and altitude are other factors making the World Cup the most demanding ever for the players.
FIFA has introduced hydration breaks in each half but scientists believe this is not enough and want matches to be stopped if the conditions are too extreme.
Under US rules, matches will also be stopped for 30 minutes in the case of lightning with 13 kilometres of a venue. That could make things difficult for players - and broadcasters.
