Forbes Analyzes Allegations of FIFA Favoritism Towards Messi and Argentina in World Cup

Forbes, the influential business and finance publication, has examined claims of FIFA's preferential treatment towards Lionel Messi and the Argentine national team during the 2026 World Cup. These allegations, which have circulated among critics who refer to Messi as "FIFA's princess" since the 2022 tournament, gained significant traction following Argentina's narrow 3-2 victory over Egypt.

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It was unfair. We suffered an injustice.

The controversy was further fueled by comments from Egypt's coach, Hossam Hassan, who voiced his disappointment after the match. Hassan stated, "It was unfair. We suffered an injustice," suggesting that FIFA's intentions were to ensure the reigning champions remained in contention. He implied that the organization might have desired Messi's continued participation in the tournament.

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Perhaps they wanted Messi to stay in the race.

Adding to the debate, the Egyptian Football Association issued a statement indicating they "cannot remain silent." The federation pointed to "several key incidents" that raised serious concerns and left them feeling disadvantaged. The article also noted that Argentina reached the semifinals without having faced any team ranked within the world's top 13, a point of contention for critics questioning the team's path through the tournament.

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several key incidents generated serious concerns and left