​The 2026 FIFA World Cup moves into the quarterfinals this Thursday, as debates over refereeing and the use of technology continue to dominate discussions about the tournament. The Spanish newspaper Marca has compiled a list of the most controversial decisions to date, highlighting moments that have stirred considerable controversy and shaped the narrative around this edition of the World Cup. Here is a look at the items they flag as the most noteworthy so far.
First, Marca labels “The Balogun case” as the biggest controversy happening off the pitch. American forward Folarin Balogun was supposed to serve a suspension after being sent off, but he was cleared to play against Belgium after FIFA postponed the penalty. The review of the incident occurred just after a public intervention by U.S. President Donald Trump, sparking accusations of political interference in FIFA — an allegation the organization denied. The photo accompanying the piece draws from Getty Images to document the moment.
Another flashpoint the publication calls the “Vini Law” in effect. The new rule, which punishes players who cover their mouths while speaking to opponents or referees, has already led to dismissals during the tournament. Paraguay’s Miguel Almirón was the first to receive a straight red card for the offense in the match against Turkey. A few days later, Ecuador’s Piero Hincapié was sent off for the same reason in the game against Mexico. The reporting also notes that the rule has created some contentious moments around how players communicate during important plays.
VAR remains firmly in the spotlight as well. Marca points to the perceived strictness of VAR in certain instances against Brazil, where a minimal contact at the start of a move ruled out what would have been Vinícius Júnior’s third goal in Brazil’s 3-0 win over Scotland. Conversely, the newspaper notes a contrasting display of refereeing leniency toward Lionel Messi in another match; against Algeria, the Argentine star appeared to be fouled from behind by Mandi, yet no yellow card was shown, and shortly afterwards Messi scored twice in the same game. The publication also cites a disputed moment in the France–Senegal clash, where questions arose about a potential penalty denied to Kylian Mbappé after a challenge inside the box.
Marca also recalls a dramatic moment for the Croatians: they were eliminated by Portugal after a goal was disallowed in stoppage time due to the ball’s internal sensor technology detecting an almost imperceptible touch by a Croatian player who had been in an offside position at the start of the attack. Egypt is another focal point in the article, as the team argued their elimination against Argentina included a disallowed goal that would have stood had a foul not been called many seconds before the finish; they also objected to two not-given penalties for alleged fouls on Mohamed Salah.
The tournament’s opener is not forgotten either. Marca notes that the match between Mexico and South Africa set a record for the most sending-offs in opening World Cup matches. The most scrutinized decision in that game was a straight red card shown to South Africa’s Zwane for a foul away from the ball, a moment that Marca says helped spark the broader debate about whether referees are applying the rules too stringently in this World Cup.
In summary, Marca’s list also highlights a record-setting opening fixture that featured a flurry of red cards and raised questions about officiating standards right from the start. Across the tournament, discussions have intensified around how new rules and VAR applications are being implemented, with fans and analysts parsing every decision for fairness and consistency.
As the World Cup moves forward into the knockout rounds, the ongoing scrutiny of refereeing and technology is unlikely to ease, with supporters around the globe continuing to debate whether the decisions on the pitch have matched the high expectations set by the competition’s prestige and drama.