Hossam Hassan, Egypt’s passionate coach, expressed his frustrations immediately following his team’s heartbreaking 3-2 defeat to Argentina in the knockout stage. The legendary player turned manager was on the verge of achieving a monumental upset as the Pharaohs held a 2-0 lead against the reigning champions. However, Argentina mounted an incredible comeback, scoring three goals in just 13 minutes, abruptly ending Egypt’s remarkable journey in the tournament.
The match transformed into an emotional whirlwind for Egyptians, filled with the thrill of potential victory that swiftly descended into despair and outrage, particularly over several refereeing calls perceived to favor Argentina. During the game, Hassan demonstrated Fifa’s official anti-discrimination symbol by crossing his arms in an ‘X’ gesture, and after the defeat, he accused the governing body of having a vested interest in an Argentine victory. He contended that his team was unjustly denied a second goal when a VAR review ruled out a foul that was over 100 yards away, and that Egypt deserved a penalty prior to Enzo Fernández’s decisive third goal for Argentina.
“Perhaps they wanted to keep the world champions in the competition?” Hassan remarked to Qatari broadcaster beIN Sports post-match. “Perhaps they wanted Messi to stay in the running?”
Hassan’s comments ignited a wave of conspiracy theories and allegations of corruption following Egypt’s elimination. The referee, François Letexier from France, became the target of widespread scrutiny, with some restaurants and cafes announcing their intentions to bar him. His Wikipedia entry was maliciously altered, falsely labeling him as Jewish, which angered fans who believed Egypt’s defeat was part of a larger Zionist conspiracy linked to Hassan’s vocal support for Palestine during the tournament.
As Argentina advanced, the conspiracy theories only intensified. Reports surfaced about the Argentinian federation and its president being investigated by the FBI for suspected money laundering. Additionally, a contentious VAR decision led to the expulsion of Switzerland’s leading striker in the quarter-finals. With each successive win, accusations of match-fixing and corruption continued to plague Argentina.
One Instagram post captioned “The World Cup was promised to Messi 3000 years ago,” featured a montage of the star’s visits to Israel while playing for Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, garnering nearly 15,000 likes. Another post, claiming “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable” received over 275,000 likes, while a fan-led petition demanding Fifa disqualify Argentina collected over 12 million signatures.
VAR technology emerged as a focal point for controversy throughout the World Cup. Critics have raised concerns about its inconsistent application and its use beyond its intended purpose. This resulted in contentious decisions such as Egypt’s disallowed goal against Argentina and Croatia’s ruled-offside goal against Portugal, which relied on a sensor in the ball that detected a touch invisible to the naked eye.
One of the tournament’s most contentious incidents involved United States striker Folarin Balogun, who received a red card after a VAR review for an uncalled foul. The situation escalated when Fifa reversed Balogun’s one-match suspension following an intervention from Donald Trump, with the US president later boasting about his influence in reinstating Balogun. This abrupt change shattered the perception of fairness and integrity in Fifa’s flagship event.
Fifa, often viewed as a corrupt organization, appeared to buckle under political pressure from the leader of one of the host nations. Uefa described the Balogun decision as “left profound questions about the consistency and fairness of decisions that directly influenced the course of the game” Meanwhile, the International Olympic Committee is being urged to investigate whether Gianni Infantino, the Fifa president and IOC member, violated rules regarding political neutrality.
The Balogun incident is not without historical precedent. In November 2025, Fifa temporarily lifted part of Cristiano Ronaldo’s ban for a red card received during a World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland, allowing him to participate in the opening matches of the group stage. This rare leniency highlighted Fifa’s readiness to accommodate one of football’s biggest attractions, especially someone who could significantly influence ticket demand. Considering Fifa’s implementation of dynamic pricing for this World Cup, which adjusts ticket prices based on real-time demand, it is understandable that doubts about the tournament’s integrity are being raised.
Furthermore, a torrent of AI-generated images and videos circulating on social media has contributed to the spread of misinformation related to the tournament. One altered image depicted someone resembling Adolf Hitler celebrating a goal against Curaçao, while another showed outgoing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer donning a Croatia jersey. An image of an Iranian footballer holding a pink backpack during a game paid tribute to the 168 schoolgirls killed by a US airstrike on Iran, and a manipulated video falsely portrayed Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman engaging in a racist tirade after his team was eliminated by Morocco.
These doctored images and videos exploit emotions, blurring the lines between fact and fiction and trapping viewers in a constant cycle of outrage fueled by racism, xenophobia, and disinformation. In some instances, fake posts may tap into genuine concerns, exacerbating the politically charged climate and the sense of injustice many experience daily.
Before the World Cup, Infantino expressed admiration for Trump despite the US president’s contentious handling of the Iran conflict, strained relationships with fellow co-hosts, and tough immigration policies. Infantino even created a so-called peace prize to placate Trump after he was overlooked for the Nobel Peace Prize. For Infantino, the US represents the pinnacle of his new football era, a market promising unprecedented revenue and spectacle, rendering Fifa’s own code of ethics irrelevant.
Due to US visa regulations, Iran’s team faced logistical challenges, shuttling between their training base in Mexico and the US for matches. Players described their experience in the tournament as a “corrupt refereeing decisions” Consequently, when Iran failed to advance to the knockout stage while another host nation was conducting airstrikes on their country, many perceived it as a profound injustice. This sentiment was further exacerbated by the Balogun incident, naturally leading to more conspiracy theories.
The context surrounding the Egypt-Argentina match is crucial; it cannot be viewed in isolation. The Egyptian national team became a beacon of hope, not only for Egyptians but for millions across the Arab world and Africa. Following their last-32 victory, Hassan publicly displayed a Palestinian flag and remarked that those devoid of empathy for the Palestinian plight had lost their humanity. The Egyptian Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza organized public viewing parties for displaced Palestinian families to watch Egypt’s matches, and tragically, the committee’s director, Mohammed Fawaz al-Wahidi, was killed in an Israeli strike just hours before Egypt faced Argentina.
For a brief period, Egypt’s World Cup journey transcended mere football; it embodied the aspirations of some of the world’s most oppressed people. Therefore, when Egypt squandered their lead against Argentina amidst controversial officiating, the resulting pain and anger resonated far deeper than the final score. For those accustomed to enduring injustice, this served as yet another reminder that the rules of the game are not applied equally.
Following the match, the Egyptian Football Association issued a statement expressing that it “cannot remain silent” regarding the series of refereeing decisions which “raised significant questions about the consistency and fairness of calls that directly influenced the game’s outcome.” Meanwhile, claims of corruption reached a peak as the Argentinian federation faced a cyber-attack, with hackers sending emails from official accounts admitting to “corrupt refereeing decisions.” Conspiracy theories proliferated on social media, suggesting that the fix was in, casting Argentina in the role of a villain.
The World Cup is not an isolated event; it exists within the context of broader societal issues. Football reflects the dynamics of society, for better or worse. The conspiracy theories surrounding the tournament are not exclusive to this event; they stem from larger societal forces, including the influence of social media, economic uncertainty, and political polarization. Movements such as QAnon, anti-vaccine sentiment, and the rise of antisemitism and Islamophobia are just a few examples.
As the World Cup unfolds, it amplifies these tensions, bringing them to the global stage. In doing so, football becomes a mirror reflecting the world that observes it.
- Karim Zidan writes a regular newsletter on the intersection of sports and politics.
