FIFA President Gianni Infantino invited King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden as a guest of honor to the men's football World Cup this summer, according to reports. Infantino sent a letter to King Carl Gustaf on April 8 inviting him to watch Sweden's World Cup matches and asking the king to confirm his attendance, Expressen reported. Johan Tegel, Deputy Head of Communications at the Swedish Royal Court, told Expressen that Infantino has not received a positive response to his invitation.
According to Ilta-Sanomat, Tegel said the king has no World Cup plans and that there is no special reason, it is just not in the plans. It is not yet known whether any other member of the royal family will attend the World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Sweden plays its first group match against Tunisia in Monterrey, Mexico on June 14. Its second group match is against the Netherlands in Houston, USA on June 20, and its third group match is against Japan in Dallas, USA on June 25.
The upcoming World Cup has drawn much criticism in recent months. Iran is scheduled to play three group matches in the USA, but its leadership has threatened that the team will not participate due to the US attack on Iran. The security situation in Mexico has been a concern after the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, was killed in a Mexican army operation in late February.