Following Egypt’s heartbreaking 3-2 defeat to Argentina in the knockout stage, coach Hossam Hassan expressed his frustration in front of the media. The former star striker was on the verge of leading his team to a monumental upset, as they held a 2-0 lead against the reigning champions before a stunning comeback by Argentina saw them score three goals in just 13 minutes, abruptly ending Egypt’s impressive tournament journey.
The match proved to be a tumultuous experience for Egyptian fans, who oscillated between hope and despair, culminating in outrage over perceived biased officiating favoring Argentina. During the game, Hassan made a crossed ‘X’ gesture, an anti-discrimination symbol endorsed by FIFA, and later accused the organization of intentionally wanting Argentina to succeed. He claimed that a second goal for Egypt was wrongly ruled out after a VAR review, which focused on a foul that occurred far from the play, and that Egypt deserved a penalty before Argentina secured their third goal.
“Perhaps they wanted to keep the world champions in the competition?” Hassan told Qatari broadcaster beIN Sports after the game. “Perhaps they wanted Messi to stay in the running?”
Hassan’s comments ignited a wave of conspiracy theories and accusations of corruption in the aftermath of Egypt’s loss. French referee François Letexier became the target of intense criticism, with establishments across Egypt announcing they would ban him due to his officiating. His Wikipedia page was even vandalized, falsely labeling him as Jewish, which fueled outrage among fans who believed that Egypt’s defeat was part of a larger conspiracy related to Hassan’s vocal support for Palestine during the tournament.
As Argentina advanced, the atmosphere of suspicion grew. Reports surfaced about the Argentinian federation and its president being investigated by the FBI for alleged money laundering. Additionally, a contentious VAR decision saw Switzerland’s striker sent off during the quarter-finals, compounding the accusations of corruption surrounding Argentina’s victories.
“The World Cup was promised to Messi 3000 years ago,” read an Instagram post featuring a montage of the star during visits to Israel, which garnered nearly 15,000 likes. Another post claimed, “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable” amassing over 275,000 likes. A fan-led petition demanding FIFA disqualify Argentina has attracted more than 12 million signatures.
VAR technology has been central to numerous controversies throughout this World Cup. Critics have pointed out inconsistencies in its application, arguing that it has been used in situations beyond its intended scope. This has resulted in contentious calls like Egypt’s disallowed goal against Argentina and Croatia’s disallowed last-minute goal against Portugal, ruled offside due to an imperceptible touch detected by the ball’s sensor.
One of the most contentious incidents involved U.S. striker Folarin Balogun, who received a red card following a VAR review for a foul that the referee had overlooked. The situation escalated when FIFA reversed Balogun’s suspension after intervention from Donald Trump, who later boasted about influencing the decision. Given that FIFA had previously stated that red card suspensions were not appealable, this sudden reversal raised significant questions about the integrity of the tournament.
FIFA, often criticized for its corrupt practices, appeared to be swayed by political pressures from the leader of one host nation. UEFA labeled the decision regarding Balogun as “left profound questions about the consistency and fairness of decisions that directly influenced the course of the game” and the International Olympic Committee has been urged to investigate whether FIFA President Gianni Infantino violated its political neutrality rules.
The Balogun incident is reminiscent of a prior situation from November 2025, when FIFA partially lifted Cristiano Ronaldo’s suspension for a red card received during a World Cup qualifier against Ireland, allowing him to participate in the opening matches. This leniency indicated FIFA’s willingness to accommodate major stars, especially those capable of driving ticket sales. With FIFA’s recent implementation of dynamic pricing strategies for the tournament, which adjust ticket prices based on demand, suspicions about the event’s integrity have only intensified.
Compounding these issues, a surge of AI-generated images and videos circulating on social media has contributed to the spread of misinformation surrounding the tournament. One manipulated image depicted a man resembling Adolf Hitler celebrating a goal, while another featured outgoing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in a Croatia jersey. Additionally, a distorted image showcased an Iranian footballer holding a pink backpack to honor the 168 schoolgirls killed by a U.S. airstrike in Iran. Another fabricated video showed Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman making a racist outburst after Morocco eliminated his team.
These altered images and videos exploit viewers’ emotions, creating a blurred line between reality and fiction, and trapping audiences in a relentless cycle of outrage fueled by racism, xenophobia, and disinformation. Some of these false posts tap into actual concerns, reflecting the politically charged atmosphere and the sense of injustice many experience in their daily lives.
Prior to the World Cup, Infantino praised Trump despite the U.S. president’s controversial handling of the Iran war and strained diplomatic relations with fellow co-hosts. Infantino even created a peace prize to placate Trump after he was overlooked for the Nobel Peace Prize. For Infantino, the U.S. represents a key market for football, offering unprecedented revenue opportunities and spectacle, disregarding FIFA’s own ethical guidelines.
Due to U.S. visa restrictions, Iran’s team was forced to navigate between their training base in Mexico and the U.S. for their matches. Players described their tournament experience as a “corrupt refereeing decisions” When Iran failed to progress to the knockout stage while one of the host nations was engaged in military actions against the country, many perceived this as a grave injustice. Such sentiments were further fueled by the Balogun incident, leading to the proliferation of conspiracy theories.
The match between Egypt and Argentina cannot be examined without acknowledging what Egypt represented during the tournament. The national team became a beacon of hope, not only for Egyptians but also for millions across the Arab world and Africa. After their victory in the round of 32, Hassan raised a Palestinian flag and stated that anyone who lacked empathy for the Palestinian plight had lost their humanity. Public viewing parties for displaced Palestinian families were organized by the Egyptian Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza, whose director, Mohammed Fawaz al-Wahidi, was killed in an Israeli strike just hours before Egypt faced Argentina.
For those few weeks, Egypt’s journey transcended football, symbolizing the aspirations of some of the world’s most marginalized communities. Therefore, when Egypt squandered their lead against Argentina amidst controversial officiating, the resulting pain and frustration resonated deeper than just the match’s outcome. For many who have faced injustice, it served as yet another stark reminder that the rules of football do not apply equally to everyone.
In the aftermath, the Egyptian Football Association issued a statement declaring that it “cannot remain silent” in light of the series of refereeing decisions that raised “profound questions about the consistency and fairness of decisions that directly influenced the course of the game.” Accusations of corruption intensified, culminating in a cyber-attack on the Argentinian federation, with hackers claiming to have sent emails from official accounts admitting to “corrupt refereeing decisions.” Conspiracy theories proliferated on social media, asserting that the outcome was predetermined, and Argentina emerged as a significant antagonist.
The World Cup does not occur in isolation. It reflects the realities of society, both positive and negative. The conspiracy theories surrounding the tournament are not isolated incidents but result from broader societal issues, including social media influence, economic uncertainty, and political division. This phenomenon is evident in various movements, such as QAnon, anti-vaccine conspiracies, and the rise of antisemitism and Islamophobia.
As the World Cup showcases these tensions on a global stage, football serves as a mirror reflecting the complexities of the world that observes it.
- Karim Zidan writes a regular newsletter on the intersection of sports and politics.
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