Egypt coach Hossam Hassan said FIFA officials unfairly favored Lionel Messi and Argentina during their Round-of-16 match on July 7, 2026 [1].
The allegations suggest that the global governing body of football prioritized commercial interests over fair play to keep the world's most famous player in the tournament. Such claims challenge the integrity of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, and the neutrality of officiating at the highest level of the sport.
The match took place in Atlanta, U.S. [2], where Egypt held a 2-0 lead until the 79th minute [2]. Argentina eventually completed a comeback to win the game 3-2 [3]. Hassan said that the refereeing decisions were influenced by the desire to ensure Messi's continued participation in the World Cup.
"FIFA wanted Lionel Messi to stay," Hassan said [4].
The coach's comments follow a series of controversial calls that allowed Argentina to overcome the Egyptian lead. These decisions drew criticism from observers outside of the team. Chess legend Garry Kasparov said that "FIFA again looks like a corrupt joke" [5].
Critics on social media echoed these sentiments, alleging that Egypt was robbed in broad daylight [3]. The controversy centers on whether the officials were pressured by the commercial gravity of a Messi-led Argentina advancing further into the bracket.
FIFA has not issued a formal response to the specific accusations made by Hassan regarding the Atlanta match. The result sends Argentina to the quarterfinals while eliminating Egypt from the competition.
“"FIFA wanted Lionel Messi to stay,"”
These accusations highlight the tension between football's commercial imperatives and its sporting integrity. Because Lionel Messi is a primary driver of global viewership and revenue, any perceived officiating bias in his favor fuels a narrative that the World Cup is managed as a commercial product rather than a fair competition. If these claims gain traction, they could increase pressure on FIFA to reform its referee appointment process and VAR transparency.
