Argentina midfielder Rodrigo De Paul says allegations of bias against his country at the 2026 World Cup are meant to “ease the pain of others who could not feel what all Argentines felt”.
The 2022 champions lost to Spain after extra time in the final on Sunday, winning a series of close knockout stage games that included accusations from Egypt manager Hossam Hassan that FIFA organizers “wanted Messi to keep running”.
“The saddest thing is that we couldn’t bring the World Cup back to our country, because if anyone should have remembered that feeling, it was you,” De Paul told Argentina’s fans.
“Today, I see how many people were hoping for this defeat, spreading baseless ideas of lying throughout the World Cup to ease the pain of others who could not hear what all the people of Argentina were going through.
“[It’s] because our smiles bother them, because our manners annoy them… but that also confirmed that love and passion for our jersey can overcome anything.”
World Cup 2026: Why Argentina is under suspicion
Hassan called for the hosts to be kicked out of the final and said Egypt were “unfairly treated” and “suffered injustice” following his side’s defeat in the last 16, with a 2-0 lead in the 78th minute and a goal disallowed.
In Argentina’s opening match, captain Messi scored a brilliant goal but could have been sent off early after holding Algerian teammate Aissa Mandi in the ball and Achilles, USA’s Folarin Balogun was sent off for a similar challenge later in the group stage.
Switzerland had just leveled against Argentina in the quarter-finals when Nati striker Breel Embolo was sent off for refereeing, leading to suggestions that the result may have been of foul play.
Argentina were not cautioned for a series of serious fouls in their semi-final win over England, which coincided with Egypt’s disallowed goal against them.
“As the hours pass, so does he [fans] which makes us see that your connection with this team goes beyond the cup,” said De Paul, who is also Messi’s teammate at MLS club Inter Miami.
“That’s what I want to hold onto to get through this time. It will hurt for a long time but, today more than ever, I’m proud to be Argentine.”
Argentina vs Spain: Paredes reacts to the World Cup final
Midfielder Leandro Paredes was at the center of the disjointed pitches shortly after the final, pushing his Spanish team-mate Gavi down in the most notable clash as players from both teams attacked each other on the pitch.
Ferran Torres scored the winner in the 106th minute after Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez picked up a second booking in normal time.
“I love you today and always,” Paredes told fans. “I am writing with a heavy heart for not being able to give you the happiness that our country deserves.
“But my heart is full of pride for giving everything we had and raising our flag high again.
“I thank everyone who was part of this team; this group of players, who gave everything to represent this jersey, as they did until the last second in all the games.
“It was an honor to be part of the best Argentine national team in history.”
2026 World Cup conspiracy theories: What the referees are saying
The chief of FIFA referees, Pierluigi Collina, said that the integrity of the match officials in this tournament cannot be doubted.
“Yes, constructive discussions about decisions will always be part of football, but baseless accusations have no place in our game,” Collina said after Argentina beat Egypt, warning that such accusations “could cause a reaction that leads to threats [officials] and their families.”
“This is wrong,” he added. “Similarly, no one can say that FIFA referees cannot be influenced by anyone – not even the FIFA president. [Gianni Infantino].
“He [Infantino] he has been showing his full support [the World Cup 2026 officials] while still hoping to operate with complete independence.
“The match officials make honest decisions and like players and coaches they always try to do the best they can.”
World Cup referee: Bias claims ‘nonsense’
Writing ahead of this year’s final, Darren Cann, who was an assistant at the 2010 game, said the referees were “totally different from FIFA”.
“According to many fans, fixed times on social media and corners of the internet, FIFA wants Argentina and Lionel Messi to win the World Cup and all the officials are there,” Cann told BBC Sport.
“As a referee we are forced to face the idea that we are part of a conspiracy theory all the time.
“This is nonsense, I can’t emphasize this too much, I can’t think of other fields in the world where there is one person with that pressure.
“The referee makes a million decisions and they get one second to react.
“Mistakes were made on the field, of course, but they are not part of the plot.
England’s Cann spoke about the rumors he had heard that Fifa “want the Argentina vs Spain final to pass the baton between Messi and. [Spain’s] Lamine Yamal”.
“The suggestion that the referees use a masterplan to ensure that Messi reaches the final is not true, obviously,” he said.
