Is FIFA World Cup 2026 rigged in Argentina’s favour? VAR data reveals crucial insight
(Courtesy : Getty)
Argentina are currently in the World Cup semi-finals.
Argentina have been one of the standout teams in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026, with the defending champions reaching the semi-finals, where they are scheduled to face England.
Despite Lionel Messi leading the goalscoring charts and firing his team to the last four, social media has been filled with claims that the defending champions have been favoured by refereeing calls throughout the tournament.
This has reached the point where fans, and even some opposition players and staff, have implied that the World Cup is “rigged” in favour of Argentina.
“The tournament is being steered towards Argentina,” Egypt forward Mostafa Ziko said about the Round of 16. “It is a rigged tournament. Congratulations to Argentina on winning the World Cup.”
This outburst followed La Albiceleste’s controversial 3-2 Round of 16 win. A goal scored by Ziko was ruled out by VAR for a foul in the buildup, while a similar challenge on Mohamed Salah was not looked at despite the move leading to Argentina’s winner.
A lot of matches played by La Albiceleste have been shrouded in controversy, from alleged penalties being overlooked for their opponents to key Argentine players not being penalised for fouls.
Even in the quarter-final clash against Switzerland, the Schweizer-Nati had a controversial call go against them. Leandro Paredes was booked for a supposed foul on Breel Embolo. However, AR asked the referee to review the incident due to ‘mistaken identity’, and Embolo was sent off for simulation.
Even in the group stage game against Algeria, Messi attracted criticism for a studs-up challenge on Aissa Mandi. The Argentine captain was not even booked by the on-field referee, and VAR did not intervene in that incident.
Recently collected VAR data, compiled by Northeastern Global News, has revealed crucial insight into whether the South American side is indeed being favoured by the video assistant referees. Let’s dive in.
Also Read: Hossam Hassan accuses Argentina vs Egypt referee of unfair decisions
VAR data puts Argentina second
According to VAR data gathered until the Round of 16 stage, Argentina are indeed ending up on the favourable side of interventions. Indeed, they are second in the list of teams that have gained the most from VAR calls at the expanded 48-team World Cup in North America.
Interestingly, La Albiceleste have not had a single VAR intervention go against them throughout the tournament. Only co-hosts Mexico have enjoyed a more positive record in this aspect.
However, it must be noted that several teams have not had any VAR interventions against them, including Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.
The top five beneficiaries in terms of VAR interventions per 100 fouls are:
- Mexico: Favour 7.8, Against 0.0
- Argentina: Favour 6.7, Against 0.0
- Portugal: Favour 4.6, Against 0.0
- New Zealand: Favour 4.2, Against 0.0
- Saudi Arabia: Favour 3.6, Against 0.0
At the other end of the spectrum, Croatia have emerged as the team that have been most negatively impacted by VAR, with no intervention going in their favour throughout the tournament.
Is FIFA World Cup 2026 rigged in Argentina’s favour?
While social media and some players have alleged bias, official VAR data shows Argentina are the second‑highest beneficiary of VAR calls, behind Mexico.
Which team benefited most from VAR in FIFA World Cup 2026?
Mexico are the top beneficiary of VAR calls in the current World Cup.
For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.
Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.