FIFA Admits Referee Error Benefited Argentina in 2026 World Cup

The custodians of international football's rules have acknowledged that Argentina benefited from a contentious refereeing decision in the 2026 World Cup.

Specifically, this pertains to the case of Breel Embolo. The former Bundesliga striker was sent off with a second yellow card in the 72nd minute of his Swiss team's quarter-final match against Argentina, with the score tied at 1-1. However, according to the correct application of rule adjustments introduced by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) for the World Cup, this should not have occurred. The official rule guardians have now admitted this in a statement obtained by The Athletic.

Let's go back to the beginning: In a challenge with Argentina's Leandro Paredes, Embolo clearly simulated a foul near the halfway line; Paredes did not touch the Swiss player at all. Despite this, the referee, Joao Pinheiro, awarded a foul and showed the Argentinian a yellow card.

As this was evidently a wrong decision, the video assistant referee, Guillermo Pacheco, intervened and sent Pinheiro to the VAR monitor. After reviewing the footage, he reversed the decision: no yellow card for Paredes, but instead, a second yellow card for Embolo, who had already been cautioned, leading to his tearful departure from the pitch. Particularly painful was the fact that Switzerland had equalized through Dan Ndoye only a few minutes earlier and had the momentum on their side. However, playing with ten men, the Swiss could not maintain their advantage, and Argentina ultimately won 3-1 in extra time.

2026 World Cup: VAR Should Not Have Intervened in the Breel Embolo Case

To get to the core of the error: While the IFAB had introduced at the beginning of the World Cup that VAR could henceforth intervene in cases of yellow cards, this only applies in instances of mistaken identity – meaning, if Pinheiro had shown the yellow card to the wrong player in this situation. The field referee's original decision to issue a yellow card cannot be questioned by VAR. Following the correct interpretation of the rule, Pinheiro's factual decision should have stood, as Paredes was – even though it wasn't a foul and the yellow card was factually incorrect – the 'correct' player. VAR should not have intervened, and Embolo should have remained on the field.

A statement from FIFA regarding this matter has not yet been issued. However, another, less contentious misinterpretation of the new rule occurred in the group stage match between co-hosts USA and Paraguay (4-1). Here, referee Danny Makkelie cautioned US defender Tim Ream with a yellow card for a perceived foul on Miguel Almiron. Again, VAR incorrectly intervened, and Makkelie rescinded the caution for Ream after reviewing the footage, instead showing Almiron a yellow card for diving.

A perceived favoritism towards Argentina by the referees had repeatedly been a topic throughout the entire World Cup. Even in the first group match against Algeria (3-0), an action by Lionel Messi caused a stir when he caught opposing defender Aissa Mandi on the calf with an open sole nearly half an hour into the game, with the score at 1-0. "For me, that's a red card," emphasized referee expert Patrick Ittrich on MagentaTV.

2026 World Cup: Even Allegations of Manipulation Regarding Argentina

Following Argentina's dramatic 3-2 victory in the round of 16 against Egypt, the Egyptian coach Hossam Hassan even raised allegations of manipulation due to several controversial refereeing decisions in favor of Messi and Co.: "I will say what I think. Regardless of the consequences: this was clearly a manipulated game, and the whole world saw it. (...) I want to get this off my chest: If they absolutely want Argentina to win, why do they invite everyone else to participate?", Hassan stated.

Argentina's excessively rough play was also deemed too rarely punished consistently by some. Ultimately, the South Americans made it to the final, where they clearly lost to Spain, with La Furia Roja being crowned world champions thanks to a well-deserved 1-0 victory after extra time. After the match, some Argentinian stars caused significant disturbances; Paredes faces a lengthy ban after punching and kicking Gavi and Eric Garcia.