The 2026 World Cup has been full of controversy. Conspiracy theories have spread widely. Allegations of corruption have also surfaced. VAR decisions have come under heavy scrutiny. Argentina’s run to the final has been at the centre of much of the debate.
Egypt’s 3-2 loss to Argentina in the last 16 sparked a firestorm. Egypt were leading 2-0 before Argentina scored three goals in 13 minutes. Coach Hossam Hassan accused FIFA of wanting Argentina to win and claimed his team was wrongly denied a goal and should have been awarded a penalty. His remarks fueled conspiracy theories, with referee François Letexier becoming the focus of intense scrutiny. His Wikipedia page was vandalised to falsely identify him as Jewish, leading to accusations of a Zionist conspiracy tied to Hassan’s support for Palestine.
As Argentina progressed, the conspiracy theories followed. Accusations of corruption and match-fixing plagued the team, with one post claiming the World Cup was “rigged for Messi” receiving more than 275,000 likes. Over 12 million people signed a petition demanding FIFA disqualify Argentina.
There has also been a deluge of AI-generated images and videos spreading disinformation. These include manipulated images of Hitler celebrating a German goal and a video of the Netherlands manager making racist remarks. The fake content preys on emotions and fuels outrage..
Infantino has been criticised for fawning over Trump despite his immigration policies and strained geopolitical ties with host nations. Iran’s team had to shuttle between Mexico and the US due to visa restrictions, and players described their experience as a “disaster.”
Why ‘Rigged for Messi’ Conspiracy Theories Have Taken Over the 2026 World Cup
The 2026 World Cup has been surrounded by conspiracy theories, particularly claims that the tournament is rigged for Lionel Messi and Argentina. Their series of favourable VAR decisions have fueled these accusations.
VAR has been at the centre of nearly every major controversy. Critics argue it is applied inconsistently and used beyond its original intent. The most controversial episode came when FIFA overturned Folarin Balogun’s suspension following an intervention from Donald Trump. UEFA called the decision “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.” The International Olympic Committee is being asked to investigate whether FIFA President Gianni Infantino breached political neutrality rules.
The corruption provides a “kernel of truth” that makes these theories more plausible. FIFA officials have been indicted for racketeering, fraud and money laundering. The World Cup has also never been politically neutral, with tournaments in Italy in 1934, Argentina in 1978, Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022 all serving political purposes.
The current World Cup is co-hosted by the United States, which is embroiled in domestic and geopolitical controversies. Donald Trump lobbied FIFA to overturn Folarin Balogun’s red-card suspension, a privilege rarely extended. VAR decisions have also been controversial, with Argentina receiving favourable interventions. A viral graphic showed Argentina ranked second for favourable VAR calls.
Why Fans Think the Tournament Is Rigged for Messi
The 2026 World Cup has generated debate among football fans. Some are questioning whether the tournament is rigged for Lionel Messi and Argentina.
One fan said there has been favouritism in general, not just for Argentina. He pointed to Lamine Yamal winning man of the match against Belgium when it should have been Mikel Merino. He also claimed the trophy artist was instructed to give Messi the award if Argentina won.
Another fan said refereeing mistakes are part of football and not proof of a conspiracy. She noted moments where Argentina did not get foul calls and argued that VAR has not always favoured them.
A third fan said the accusations are driven by dislike of Argentina or Messi rather than understanding the rules. He said declaring a tournament rigged without compelling evidence is not acceptable.
One fan said people only cry foul when Messi is involved. He pointed out that France were awarded two penalties in the 2022 final and nobody claimed it was rigged. He also noted that England’s equaliser against Norway came after the ball touched the spider cam and that Ronaldo’s suspension was also lifted.
Another fan said those who make such claims ignore the flaws of their own side and that calling everything rigged without proof sounds like sour grapes.
A student said he does not buy the idea of the World Cup being rigged for Messi. He said Messi is one of the greatest players and every success comes with admiration and hate. He noted that refereeing mistakes exist in every World Cup.
FAQs
Q. Why are fans saying the World Cup is rigged for Messi?
A. Some fans believe controversial VAR decisions have favoured Argentina.
Q. Why did Egypt accuse FIFA after the Argentina match?
A. Egypt claimed they were denied key decisions in the round of 16.
Q. Why is FIFA facing criticism during the 2026 World Cup?
A. FIFA has faced criticism over VAR decisions and other controversial actions.
Q. Did FIFA confirm the World Cup was rigged?
A. No. There is no official evidence proving the tournament was rigged.
Get the FIFA World Cup 2026 Updates at IceCric.News. Also, Follow Our Social Media for live updates on Facebook and Instagram.
