Gianni Infantino's 'shambolic' pre-event ramble kicks off World Cup in Mexico

The day has finally arrived: after all the controversy in what has felt like a never-ending build-up, tonight, the 23rd men's Fifa World Cup begins! 

Co-hosts Mexico get proceedings underway at the famous Azteca in Mexico City, which becomes the first stadium to host three different opening games. It will also be the first-ever opening match to be replayed between the same sides, after the two teams faced off in 2010 - a 1-1 draw famous for that Siphiwe Tshabalala goal. Following that, South Korea take on Czech Republic in Guadalajara, in the other Group A clash. 

Yet before all that, three-and-a-half years on from his infamous 'Today I feel...' monologue in Qatar, Gianni Infantino took to the press conference stage for the first time in three years as he spoke to the world's media in Mexico City on Wednesday. 

In a session lasting over an hour, a rambling Infantino implored people to "chill and relax" when questioned about visa issues after Somali referee Omar Artan was refused entry into the United States.

The Fifa president also insisted his organisation deserves praise for getting Iran to compete at all and, as our Chief Football Writer Miguel Delaney notes, the whole show depicted how ensconced Infantino is in the Donald Trump orbit, to the point of actually sounding like him.

 Jack Rathborn | Sports Editor

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