From Janina Nuno Rios Angelica Medina

MEXICO CITY, June 10 (Reuters) - FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the way the organization has handled visa issues ahead of the World Cup, saying on Wednesday that FIFA is working on solutions but cannot override government decisions.

Speaking on the eve of the tournament's opening match between Mexico and South Africa, Infantino addressed concerns about the situation of Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was denied entry to the United States despite having a valid visa.

"What happened to the Somali referee is regrettable," Infantino said at a press conference.

He added, "We are not the kings of the world who can control governments and police forces. We are a sports organization."

This case has highlighted the challenges related to immigration ahead of the World Cup, scheduled from June 11 to July 19, after US authorities said Arten was barred from entering because of his ties to individuals "suspected of belonging to terrorist organizations."

Infantino said FIFA continues to work behind the scenes to resolve outstanding issues, but stressed that decisions regarding immigration ultimately rest with national authorities.

He said, "We are always trying to find solutions. Sometimes, immediately starting to shout and chant has the opposite effect and prevents finding a solution."

When asked whether the visa issues made him regret choosing the United States as one of the host countries for the World Cup, Infantino said he felt no regrets.

He added, "There are problems; that's normal in an event of this size. Some of them are coming from the United States, some from Canada, and some from Mexico. We are dealing with them all."

The FIFA president also pointed to Iran's participation in the tournament as evidence of FIFA's efforts to deal with complex political circumstances.

Infantino said, "People were saying that Iran would not be able to participate in the World Cup. I promised them that they would come."

He added that ensuring Iran's participation despite geopolitical tensions demonstrates football's ability to bring people together.

We want to unite the world

Swiss-Italian Infantino has spoken repeatedly about the message of unity, saying the World Cup can provide welcome entertainment at a time of global conflict and uncertainty.

He added, "When Iran plays, the stadium will be full, and I hope there will be a positive atmosphere because this is football. We want to unite the world."

Infantino also defended FIFA ticket prices after criticism from some fans who claimed that the cost of attending matches had become exorbitant.

FIFA sold more than six million tickets for the tournament, which now includes 48 teams, and Infantino said demand exceeded expectations "by 10 times or more".

He added, "The starting price of $60 is the lowest entry price for any American sporting competition in the knockout stages."

"If the tickets had been sold at a lower price, they would have passed on to secondary markets at much higher prices. Every dollar collected will go back into the development of football."

The World Cup kicks off tomorrow, Thursday, at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, which will become the first stadium to host matches in three different editions of the men's World Cup, and Infantino expects this edition to be one of the most competitive in the tournament's history.

The FIFA president said that factors such as altitude, climate, travel and the expansion of the tournament would add more unpredictability, and concluded by saying, "Let the celebrations begin."