By Obiako Chris Okechukwu on July 9, 2026

The 22nd edition of the FIFA World Cup Finals, is, undoubtedly, the most glamorous since 1930 when the first hit the headlines. 

The 2026 Finals is the most attractive, unquestionably. 

It's the most followed, without doubt.

 It's the most lucrative (commercially) to FIFA and billions of stakeholders. 

With 48 countries from across the earth, it was supposed to be the greatest event on earth. It was supposed to be a celebration of the beautiful game - the most followed sporting event on earth.

It was meant to be a celebration of unity, love, joy, peace, entertainment, glory, honour...name them...everything upright...everything sublime.

However, events emanating from USA, Canada and Mexico have set tongues wagging, brought players and officials on collision course, tested the patience of fans and stakeholders, and exposed the discrepancies in the rank and file of FIFA - the beautiful game's world governing body.

From the report of a very prominent referee, Omar Abdulkadir Artan, being denied entry into the United States, an Iraq player, Aymen Hussein, being detained for seven hours at Chicago's O'Hare Airport, Iran being forced to switch their base to Mexico, and with journalists, fans and stakeholders stopped from travelling to the World Cup venues because of travel bans and restrictions, Gianni Infantino and his FIFA cohorts, who, hitherto had been expressing confident opinions and making bold predictions, are currenting wiping eggs from their faces. 

As if the deportation of the Somali referee, detention of the Iraq player - unheard of in the annals of the Mundial - were not stringent and horrifying enough, the withdrawal of the red card issued to Folarin Balogun after USA President, Donald Trump's intervention dragged FIFA and their principles through the mud - like never before.

If you're looking for the MOTHER of all the 2026 FIFA World Cup Finals controversies, just come with me as we delve into the questionable referee decisions we have witnessed so far.

Whoever watched the France - Paraguay Round of 16 match will be bamboozled that while the South Americans were kicking and punching Kylian Mbappe and his team mates, Uzbekistan referee, Ilgiz Tantashev, incredibly, looked the other way.

That Paraguay finished the match with 11 men was bizarre. That 3 French players got yellow cards, with none going to the South Americans, was horrendous, to say the least.

Only yesterday, one of Africa's flagbearers, Egypt, were eliminated in the round of 16, albeit under circumstances that set the football world ablaze.

The obnoxious officiating by French referee, Francois Lexetier, was simply outrageous - a view held by millions of football stars, referees, fans, analysts and stajeholders - across the global football fraternity.

First to fire the first shot was former Manchester United defender, Patrice Evera:

“I don’t care what people say, for me Egypt have been robbed. Football is becoming too sterile.”

“Egypt should be 2-0 up. They have outworked Argentina, out-fought Argentina, and now they have to fight against disappointment as well."

Didier Drogba:

"FIFA is a disgrace.

If they don't want other countries to compete with Lionel Messi and Argentina, they should just say it directly, instead of making it seem like we're wasting our time."

Bimbo Adeola wrote: "Everything for Argentina! Why ignore the penalty calls by Egypt? Check out the pictures - one is foul, the other isn't. VAR dies once it's against Argentina and Messi. This is a disgrace for the game."

Tunde Ednut:

"FIFA and match officials always favour Messi and Argentina."

Totori Master:

"Was that not a foul committed against Egypt before Argentina launched the counter attack that led to their third goal?"

My take is simple: FIFA should have told the other 47 countries not to bother coming to USA, Canada and Mexico.

Instead of going through energy-sapping and rigorous qualifying matches, traveling thousands of miles from different parts of the world - with the exorbitant costs and risks involved - only to arrive to be at the mercy of Argentina, FIFA, referees and VAR.

Why did FIFA not simply award the trophy to their favourite son, Lionel Messi, so that everyone will rest?

Right from Argentina's first match against Algeria, where Messi committed a red card offence, but wasn't even warned, to the Round of 32 match against Cape Verde, where blatant fouls by Messi and his cheating team mates were not checked, it has been CLEAR that Gianni Infantino and his gang (at FIFA) had written a script to favour the South Americans.

As we speak, European Union (EU) have commenced initiatives to probe Infantino and his FIFA honchos.

Like disgraced Sepp Blatter, the FIFA President could end up kissing the dust in a scandal that is threatening to tear football's reputation into shreds.

We keep our fingers crossed.

Source DailySports Nigeria

Posted July 9, 2026

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