The 2026 World Cup has been embroiled in multiple controversies, ranging from political interference to accusations of greed and a lack of backbone directed at FIFA, as well as disputes over the widely criticised VAR system.
Al Jazeera analyses the five most significant controversies that have emerged during the 2026 football tournament to date.
FIFA advises people to ‘chill and relax’ after Somalian referee denied entry to US
Somali official Omar Abdulkadir Artan was prevented from participating in the World Cup after being denied entry to the United States despite holding a valid visa.
The broader immigration policies of the US administration have been widely characterised as racist and discriminatory, with Washington imposing a sweeping travel ban last year on citizens of 12 countries, including Somalia, and four nations that qualified for the World Cup: Haiti, Iran, Senegal and Ivory Coast.
An official in the administration of US President Donald Trump alleged, without providing evidence, that Artan was denied entry due to links to “suspected members of terror organisations”.
However, Artan is a highly respected referee who was named Confederation of African Football’s men’s official of the year in 2025. FIFA remained conspicuously silent in his defence, with President Gianni Infantino suggesting critics should “chill and relax”.
At least Artan, who returned home to a hero’s welcome, will receive full payment and is set to officiate the UEFA Super Cup next season.
Balogun reprieve brings integrity of the tournament into question
Infantino was also compelled to defend FIFA’s disciplinary process after the body suspended a World Cup red-card ban on USA striker Folarin Balogun following direct intervention by Trump, intensifying claims that FIFA capitulated to political pressure.
Infantino maintained that FIFA’s judicial bodies operated “independently and autonomously” and that he had informed Trump the Balogun case was under legal review, after the US president personally urged a revisit.
The incident drew censure from European football governing body UEFA, which said FIFA had “crossed a red line”. Criticism also emerged from the Royal Belgian Football Association, several national federations, senior coaches, officials and politicians, many arguing that FIFA had eroded confidence in its disciplinary system.
Belgium, who progressed to the quarterfinals with an emphatic 4-1 victory over the USA in the Americans’ final World Cup match, had challenged Balogun’s eligibility hours before kickoff. FIFA rejected the protest and the striker started the game, though he made little impact as the US exited quietly.
“I think they [FIFA] made a really brilliant decision,” Trump told reporters at the Oval Office. “I asked for a review. If they would not allow a top player to play I think it [the World Cup] would have had a big stain. I related that feeling.”
Trump also cast doubt on the officiating of Brazil’s Raphael Claus, who sent Balogun off, calling him “a little bit suspect if you check his past.” He offered no details. The Brazilian FA rejected any implication against the referee’s integrity, while FIFA again stopped short of fully supporting its official.
VAR vexation
Numerous contentious decisions have arisen from the much-criticised video assistant referee (VAR) system, perhaps most vocally after Egypt’s dramatic 3-2 round-of-16 loss to Argentina.
Egypt looked poised for one of the tournament’s greatest upsets when leading defending champions Argentina 2-0 with 11 minutes remaining, only to concede three late goals and be eliminated.
Much debate focused on a 62nd-minute goal by Egypt’s Mostafa Zico that would have extended the lead. The goal was disallowed after a VAR review flagged a foul by an Egyptian player in the buildup.
Coach Hossam Hassan and captain Mohamed Salah voiced frustration post-match, while several former players and pundits questioned the officiating.
“Surely, this is not within VAR’s to review this,” former England goalkeeper Rob Green said on Fox’s broadcast, referring to the foul that nullified Zico’s goal. “It’s a full length of the pitch away.”
VAR also proved contentious in Argentina’s 3-1 quarterfinal win over Switzerland.
Swiss forward Breel Embolo received a second yellow card for simulation in the 72nd minute, five minutes after teammate Dan Ndoye had equalised Alexis Mac Allister’s early strike and with Switzerland looking more threatening.
The referee had initially booked Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes before an extended VAR review determined Embolo had not been fouled.
“There was definitely no reason to award a yellow card,” Swiss coach Murat Yakin said. “It was a harmless situation. He should have let play continue.”
Sky-high ticket prices
Earlier this week, reports indicated FIFA had nearly 1,200 category two tickets priced at $7,380 for the World Cup final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
FIFA has faced intense criticism over ticket costs throughout various sales phases ahead of the tournament, with one fan group filing a lawsuit over “excessive ticket prices”.
In April, FIFA listed four resale tickets at $2m each; Infantino joked about the figures but otherwise defended the steep prices, arguing football’s global governing body was required to exploit US laws permitting resale at thousands above face value.
FIFA is also subject to a subpoena from the US states of New York and New Jersey as part of a probe into ticket pricing and the accuracy of seat locations for the World Cup.
‘Hydration’ commercial breaks
FIFA’s choice to implement hydration breaks in every World Cup fixture, irrespective of temperature, has also generated controversy.
When FIFA announced the rule in December, it stated players would “benefit from three-minute hydration breaks in each half of games as FIFA prioritises player welfare” due to heat.
Players, coaches, fans and analysts have criticised the policy for interrupting matches and effectively dividing games into four quarters rather than two halves—especially as many matches have not been played in extreme heat.
“New York, California and Miami, as well as the Mexican stadiums, have been hot enough, but there’s no justification for breaks at the air-conditioned arenas like Dallas, Houston, Atlanta or Vancouver,” senior meteorologist Everton Fox told Al Jazeera.
“I know FIFA claim to have done this across all games to be consistent,” Fox said. “But it’s hard to see it as anything other than a commercial venture worth millions of dollars in advertising to the US TV channels, if not billions, globally.”