​I know we’re living in a fragile era where chasing after the first hint of a conspiracy can feel easier—more convenient—than taking a measured approach. Still, we really need to tighten up how we talk about Argentina in the men’s World Cup. Yes, this is Messi’s final international tournament, and yes, Argentina—whether Messi is there or not—is a powerhouse in world football, a nation with a storied tradition in the sport. Yes, FIFA has a reputation for murky decision-making and, at this tournament, there are troubling allegations and controversies, including what appears to be a significant scandal involving the United States team. And yes, an underdog like Egypt was affected in a Round of 16 matchup against Argentina by a VAR system that many feel misfired.
But, and hear me out, that doesn’t prove FIFA is “rigging” the biggest sporting event on the planet simply to let Messi cap his career with another World Cup title—especially not in a way that would require an enormous, highly coordinated conspiracy spanning every corner of the organization, from executives to referees, over a complex five-week window. That leap is enormous and almost unimaginable. Yet with Messi and Argentina advancing toward the semifinals next week, that “rigged” narrative has found fertile soil in some of the darkest corners of the internet. It’s even seeping into debates over things like Breel Embolo’s display of playacting for Switzerland, which some use to fuel broader theories.
To anyone who believes FIFA is orchestrating outcomes for Argentina and Messi with some invisible hand, I have to ask you to pause and consider: do you truly understand how ludicrous that sounds? How irrational it would be to pull off such a plan without a single slip when the stakes are global, the scrutiny is relentless, and the logistics span continents over more than a month? Do you grasp the financial and ideological commitments it would require from every person connected to FIFA—from corporate executives to match officials—to carry out something so massive without it unraveling? If there were even a whisper of truth, the entire soccer press corps would be chasing that story relentlessly.
There are appealing, even glamorous aspects to the idea of a dramatic finale: the notion that Messi could bow out in a World Cup Final in front of a global audience potentially numbering in the billions is undeniably compelling. It’s the kind of narrative that can feel irresistibly cinematic to fans and commentators alike, and it’s not difficult to see why people would fantasize about it. And to be clear, FIFA’s historical record does warrant a degree of skepticism; the organization has earned trust neither automatically nor permanently. It’s reasonable to critique and to demand accountability.
But the moment you try to justify a claim about a grand, covert manipulation by pointing to a flawed technology system or to a single controversial moment in a match as proof of a grand design, you’ve lost the thread. You’re leaning into hyperbole that distorts reality and distracts from substantive discussion about the game, the players, and the quality of officiating. If you want to have a meaningful conversation about the tournament, let’s focus on the actual issues at hand: the performances on the pitch, the tactical decisions, the refereeing standards, and where improvements are needed in the sport’s governance. After all, the beauty of the World Cup lies in the competition itself, not in conspiracy theories that, frankly, would require a level of coordination and secrecy that defies belief.