In the last six weeks, the 2026 FIFA World Cup has delivered stunning goals, filled stadiums, and unforgettable players.
As we near the final at MetLife Stadium, it’s a good moment to reflect on some of the tournament’s most contentious incidents on the field.
From red cards, marginal offsides, penalties that required lengthy reviews, to contentious calls that seemed to escape scrutiny, officiating—and technology—have certainly played a crucial role this World Cup, alongside stars like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Lamine Yamal. Some decisions were clearly in line with the rules, yet others raised eyebrows about whether the sport was leaning too heavily on extensive analysis, puzzling players, coaches, and millions of fans.
Here’s a look at 10 of the most debated moments of the tournament.
10. Bril Embolo’s heartbreaking red card for Switzerland
The quarterfinal match between Switzerland and Argentina took a sudden turn.
Referee Joao Pinheiro initially booked Argentina’s Leandro Paredes. However, after VAR reviewed a play involving Bril Embolo, Paredes’s yellow card was overturned, and he was given a second yellow for simulation when it appeared Embolo had exaggerated the contact.
This red card left Switzerland at a disadvantage in extra time, leading to a 3-1 defeat.
Switzerland’s coach, Murat Yakin, expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome, labeling the ruling “completely unacceptable” and asserting that his team “deserves to reach the semi-finals.” His concerns were primarily about the initial yellow card, which sparked a chain reaction that altered the course of the match.
9. Vinicius Junior concedes a goal with the slightest touch
Brazil ultimately triumphed over Scotland with a 3-0 score, yet the aftermath of one incident lingered.
After Jack Hendry hesitated, Vinicius Jr. seized the opportunity and seemingly netted a goal. But VAR ruled out the goal due to a foul committed by Vinicius moments before, despite the contact being minimal.
Even analysts agreed Scotland caught a fortunate break that day, leaving the goal erased and debates alive.
8. Iranian dreams erased by toenails
No team has felt the sting of cruel timing like Iran.
As Shoja Khalilzadeh netted what they thought was a winning goal in the dying moments of their final group match, celebrations began to unfold. Unfortunately, VAR intervened.
The offside graphic revealed an infinitesimal margin: toe-to-toe.
7. Croatia’s Last Dance ends with connected ball technology
Luka Modric must have thought a final miracle was at hand in his World Cup career.
Though Josko Gvardiol’s dramatic equalizer against Portugal initially appeared to save Croatia, connected ball technology showed that Igor Matanovic had grazed the ball mere milliseconds prior, ruling Gvardiol offside.
6. UK Skycam controversy
The tying goal in the England versus Norway match stirred much discussion.
Norwegian players argued that a clearance by goalkeeper Orjan Nyland inadvertently struck the Skycam support cable, leading to Jude Bellingham’s goal. Yet FIFA later presented evidence proving that the ball had not touched the cable.
5. Belgium’s last-minute penalty against Senegal
Belgium found a last chance just as a penalty was looming.
After a lengthy VAR review, it was determined that Senegal’s Ramin Kamara made slight contact with Youri Tielemans in the penalty area. The contact seemed minimal, yet referee Said Martinez awarded the penalty after reviewing the incident.
Tielemans converted, allowing Belgium to stage an incredible comeback from a 2-0 deficit.
4. Folarin Balogun’s red card turns political
This decision spanned beyond just football and delved into politics.
Balogun received a red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina for a foul deemed serious by VAR during what seemed like an innocent play.
In an unexpected twist, FIFA reversed Balogun’s one-match suspension amid political pressure, allowing him to participate in the next game, which raised eyebrows about favoritism towards soccer’s elite.
3. Messi avoids red points against Algeria
The tournament’s star found himself at the heart of a major controversy.
In Argentina’s first match, Messi accidentally stepped on the ankle of Algeria’s captain, Aissa Mandy. Many anticipated at least an investigation for the aggressive play.
However, the game continued without any cards shown.
Despite scoring a hat-trick that game, social media erupted with accusations regarding preferential treatment for the superstar.
2. Jonathan Tarr’s winner disappears
Germany thought they had secured a victory over Paraguay.
Jonathan Tarr’s header seemed to signal the winning goal in extra time, but VAR detected that teammate Waldemar Anton had interfered with goalkeeper Orlando Gil, nullifying the goal.
The minimally visible contact resulted in the goal being disallowed, escalating Tarr’s woes when he later missed a decisive penalty, leading to one of the tournament’s major upsets for Germany.
1. Egypt’s goal was not recognized and criticism of “Valgentina” grows
Nobody faced more backlash than after Argentina’s round-of-16 exit.
Egypt looked poised for a monumental victory until VAR nullified a winning goal due to a foul earlier in the play. Minutes later, Argentina improbably came back to win on a controversial goal.
This disparity in decisions incited widespread critiques and fueled the already prevalent “Valztina” conspiracy theory.
Egypt’s coach, Hossam Hassan, made one of the tournament’s angriest comments, accusing FIFA of masking favoritism towards Messi, claiming he was done watching the game.
Whether justified or not, his words encapsulated a fundamental contradiction of the 2026 World Cup.
While technology aimed to reduce controversy, it often sparked more debates than it resolved.
