Messi denies FIFA bias after Argentina beats England

Argentina captain Lionel Messi has forcefully dismissed accusations of FIFA favoritism following his team's dramatic 2-1 semifinal victory over England on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, in Atlanta. The win secured Argentina a place in the World Cup final against Spain this Sunday, marking their second consecutive appearance in the championship match.

Messi, 39, directly addressed the mounting controversy after the game, stating, "Nothing was handed to us." He elaborated that the team's achievements were earned through merit, not preferential treatment. "What this group has achieved is incredible... we are the best in the world after these four years, whether people like it or not," Messi said. "This proves that what we did wasn't by chance and that nobody gave us anything."

The allegations stem from Argentina's path through the knockout stages, where officiating decisions in their favor have drawn formal complaints. Egypt filed a complaint with FIFA after a 3-2 loss to Argentina in the round of 16, with manager Hossam Hassan alleging serious refereeing mistakes and bias intended to keep Messi in the tournament. Switzerland also criticized the officiating as "one-sided and baffling"...