Five biggest refereeing controversies of the 2026 World Cup

Despite the introduction of VAR and balls equipped with chips, the 2026 World Cup has been marred by significant refereeing controversies. The article argues that while technology may correct some decisions, it has not quelled the debates or ensured referees maintain control over the matches.

The piece details five major controversial moments. In the Argentina vs. Algeria match, Leo Messi received no card for a studs-first tackle on Aïssa Mandi, despite the score being 1-0. FIFA defended the Polish referee Szymon Marciniak's decision.

Norway's match against England saw two contentious calls. England's equalizer came after the ball reportedly hit a spidercam cable, altering its trajectory. FIFA stated there was no evidence of malfunction, but video showed the ball dropping unexpectedly. Additionally, Norway had a second goal disallowed after VAR review, with referee Clement Turpin ruling Erling Haaland had pushed Elliot Anderson, a decision that overturned the initial on-field call.

Another significant controversy involved Iran's potential match-winning goal against Egypt in the 93rd minute. Referee Szymon Marciniak disallowed Shoja Khalilzadeh's goal for a marginal offside, a decision that led to Iran's elimination from the tournament. The article notes the offside was almost imperceptible to the human eye.

The author concludes that even with advanced technology, human error and subjective interpretations continue to fuel debate and dissatisfaction among players and fans, leaving a lingering sense of unease about the referees' command of the game.