​Amid the uproar surrounding refereeing decisions at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Argentina starter Lisandro Martínez rejected claims of any favoritism toward Lionel Messi and his teammates. “No, absolutely none. I think they are doing an excellent job. That’s something for you [the press], who sometimes spark the controversies. We focus on giving our best on the pitch and nothing else,” he said.
Following Argentina’s dramatic qualification in a 3-2 comeback win over Egypt, the Egyptian Football Association lodged a formal protest over VAR usage, with particular attention to Mostafa Zico’s goal disallowed in the 17th minute of the second half. Yet FIFA’s head of refereeing, Pierluigi Collina, defended the on-field officials, rejected any insinuation of bias toward the reigning champions, and emphasized the VAR team’s decisions as independent.
Turning to the upcoming clash, Argentina returns to action this Saturday in Kansas City to face Switzerland in the quarter-finals. Despite suggestions of favoritism toward South American rivals, the squad urged caution against a strong European opponent that arrives in good form after eliminating Colombia. Martínez underscored the Swiss side’s qualities and the balanced challenge they pose. “As always, what defines this team is respect for the opponent. If Switzerland have reached this stage, it’s because they have a lot of merit. They are very strong physically and also on set pieces. I think it will be a great spectacle,” he said.
Cristian Romero, fellow center-back and the scorer of the decisive goal in the comeback against Egypt, echoed the importance of self-improvement. He emphasized that Argentina’s primary focus should be on their own development, regardless of opponent, origin, or location. “Regardless of who we face, the name of the opponent, or where they come from, we always focus on ourselves and on correcting the mistakes we make,” he added.
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