Allegations of bias and conspiracy theories have emerged surrounding the FIFA World Cup, with a particular focus on perceived favoritism towards the Argentine national team. Social media platforms have been flooded with memes and discussions suggesting that FIFA, the sport's governing body, and its president, Gianni Infantino, are influencing the tournament to favor Argentina.
These suspicions have been amplified by specific incidents and past events. One notable claim involves a decision during a match where Argentine captain Lionel Messi made a tackle that some experts argued warranted a red card. Despite the severity of the challenge, the referee issued only a free-kick, allowing Messi to remain on the pitch and later score a hat-trick. The Algerian Football Federation reportedly filed a complaint with FIFA regarding this and other refereeing decisions in that game. Similar incidents have been cited in subsequent matches, fueling the narrative that decisions have consistently favored Argentina.
The theory of FIFA bias towards Argentina is not new, with accusations surfacing during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. At that time, the argument posited that a commercially valuable Latin American market and a highly marketable player like Messi would benefit FIFA more than a French victory. This narrative suggested that FIFA, often described as corrupt, would profit from an Argentine win.
A new dimension to these theories has emerged this year, connecting a potential Argentine victory to political interests, specifically former U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump has publicly engaged with FIFA and Lionel Messi, welcoming Messi and his club, Inter Miami, to the White House. Reports suggest that Trump, who is slated to present the World Cup trophy alongside Infantino, might prefer to hand it to Messi over potentially more politically outspoken players, such as French captain Kylian Mbappe.
Past World Cup tournaments have also seen controversies surrounding Argentina. The 1978 victory under a military dictatorship was accompanied by unproven allegations of a deal involving grain and weapons. In 1986, Diego Maradona's infamous "hand of God" goal against England, which was not disallowed, remains a point of contention. More recently, in 2022, Argentina was awarded a record number of penalties, and specific incidents involving Messi and player Leandro Paredes led to scrutiny over the application of yellow cards.
Beyond on-field decisions, some point to Argentina's relatively easier path to the semi-finals, avoiding higher-ranked opponents and more demanding venues. The referee appointed for a crucial semi-final match between England and Argentina, Ismail Elfath, has been noted by some as having a favorable record for matches involving Messi, further fueling speculative narratives.
These ongoing discussions highlight a recurring tension between the commercial and political interests of global sporting bodies and the perception of fair play and neutrality in major international competitions.