2026 World Cup controversy: VAR, politics, and refereeing scandals overshadow tournament
The 2026 World Cup was meant to be a landmark celebration of football, a historic first edition with 48 nations competing across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Instead, as the tournament reached its climax, the global conversation shifted from tactical masterclasses to a storm of controversy, placing FIFA and president Gianni Infantino at the center of a scandal they had desperately tried to avoid.
The tournament concluded with a new champion, but the story of this World Cup may not be who lifted the trophy. Despite having more technology available than ever before, including VAR in every match and semi-automated offside technology tracking every movement, the officiating became the biggest talking point of the entire competition.
At the heart of most of the controversy was Argentina. The defending champions benefited from a series of calls that had fans, pundits, and players from other nations questioning the integrity of the tournament. Multiple media outlets globally openly suggested that FIFA was favoring Argentina's path to the title.
The scrutiny began in the group stage. During Argentina's match against Algeria, Lionel Messi delivered a challenge on Rami Bensebaini that many observers felt deserved a straight red card. Replays showed a tackle that was far from subtle, yet VAR did not intervene, and no review was conducted.
The situation intensified in the Round of 16. Egypt, playing some incredible football, were giving the reigning champions everything they could handle. When Mustafa Ziko scored what looked like a perfectly good goal, the referee initially awarded it, sparking celebrations for the Pharaohs. However, VAR official Jerome Brisard called the referee to the monitor, citing a foul on Marwan Attia at the beginning of the buildup. The review led to the goal being disallowed.
Just days later, the same VAR official, Jerome Brisard, was working the England versus Norway quarterfinal. Norway scored, but there was contact with England captain Harry Kane at the start of the play. The situation appeared very similar to the incident in the Egypt match, yet this time there was no VAR intervention and the goal stood. The inconsistency was glaring.
Egypt managed to score a second goal through Ziko, giving them a brief moment of hope. But Argentina responded with three quick goals, ending Egypt's historic tournament run in the Round of 16 and leaving a bitter taste for many.
The controversies continued. In the quarterfinal against Switzerland, Breel Embolo received a second yellow card following a VAR review. Many observers felt the decision to send him off was incredibly harsh, forcing Switzerland to play a man down against the defending champions for a significant portion of the match. Argentina won and advanced to the semifinals.
Off the pitch, a situation involving United States forward Folarin Balogun became about much more than just football. Balogun received a red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32, which VAR confirmed. He was fined for celebrating with his teammates after being sent off, and standard procedure called for an automatic one-match suspension. However, FIFA's disciplinary committee decided to suspend that suspension until after the World Cup, meaning Balogun would be available for the knockout rounds.
This decision became outright scandalous when President Donald Trump publicly stated that he had personally called FIFA president Gianni Infantino about the situation. The head of state of the host country directly contacting the head of FIFA regarding a disciplinary decision involving a player from that host country raised serious questions. The Times of London reported that this incident severely damaged Infantino's political standing within FIFA, with multiple member nations including Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, and Switzerland publicly expressing their disapproval. Even Egypt and Senegal are reportedly reevaluating their alliances within the organization.
Infantino might still run for re-election unopposed, but his influence and power have taken a serious hit. The Balogun situation wasn't the only off-field issue either. Kylian Mbappe got into an altercation with a Paraguayan senator, which quickly escalated into a diplomatic headache for the organizing committee.
Beneath the surface of the high-profile disputes, a crisis was brewing within the refereeing contingent itself. African officials at the tournament were reportedly furious. Since the Round of 32 began, African referees had been completely shut out of match assignments, despite training every day and attending all the preparatory meetings. They took their complaints to Victor Gomes, the South African member of FIFA's refereeing committee, seeking answers for why they were being overlooked. However, FIFA's refereeing committee, led by Pierluigi Collina, stuck to their protocols, offering no adjustments or satisfactory explanations.
This World Cup became defined by a disturbing pattern: political interference at the highest level, inconsistent VAR decisions that seemingly favored one team, marginalized African referees, and a FIFA president whose credibility was being questioned from all sides. While the football itself was often brilliant, featuring incredible performances and moments of pure genius, it was all overshadowed by the events happening around it.
- VAR inconsistency: Jerome Brisard oversaw a goal being disallowed for Egypt against Argentina but allowed a similar play to stand in England vs Norway.
- Argentina's favor: The defending champions benefited from questionable calls, including a non-reviewed challenge by Lionel Messi and a harsh red card for Switzerland's Breel Embolo.
- Political interference: US President Donald Trump publicly stated he called FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarding Folarin Balogun's suspension, which was subsequently delayed.
- Infantino's position: His political standing was severely damaged, with multiple nations expressing disapproval.
- Refereeing crisis: African officials were shut out of knockout match assignments and their complaints to the refereeing committee went unaddressed.
The 2026 World Cup delivered incredible football, but its legacy will be defined by the controversies that surrounded it. From political interference to major officiating scandals, the tournament raised serious questions about FIFA's integrity and the fairness of the beautiful game on its grandest stage.