BOSTON: FIFA’s appointment of an all-Argentine officiating team for the 2026 World Cup quarterfinal between Morocco and France has sparked debate among football fans, with some questioning the decision because Argentina remains in the tournament.
FIFA announced that the match, to be played Thursday in Boston, will be officiated by five Argentine officials, including the referee, two assistant referees, the reserve assistant referee and the fourth official.
The match officials for @FIFAWorldCup match 97 have been appointed. 🤝
— FIFA (@FIFAcom) July 7, 2026
The appointments prompted criticism on social media, where some users alleged potential bias and questioned why officials from a country still competing in the tournament had been selected.
Others claimed the decision could undermine confidence in the competition, although no evidence was presented to support allegations of favoritism.
Former West Indies cricketer Carlos Brathwaite also commented on X, criticizing FIFA’s referee appointments and referring to the officiating in Argentina’s previous match against Egypt.
Some users, however, pointed out that Argentina’s round-of-16 match against Egypt was officiated by a French referee and two French assistant referees, while the fourth official and reserve assistant referee were from Norway.
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FIFA has not publicly commented on the criticism. Under FIFA regulations, match officials are generally barred from officiating matches involving their own national team, but referees from other participating countries may be appointed provided there is no direct conflict of interest.
