Argentina’s head coach, Lionel Scaloni, has firmly addressed the rising speculation that FIFA is showing favoritism towards the defending champions in the 2026 World Cup. The conversation has heated up as various decisions and outcomes seem to have favored Argentina throughout the tournament. Both on-field incidents and off-field circumstances have led many to believe that the reigning champions are getting some special treatment from FIFA. The noise around these accusations grew even louder after Argentina staged a remarkable comeback from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Egypt 3-2 in the Round of 16, with some members of the Egyptian team even alleging that the tournament was “fixed” to ensure Argentina keeps hold of the trophy.
Ahead of Argentina’s quarter-final clash against Switzerland, Scaloni finally addressed the controversy surrounding his side,as he said, “The thing is, we might have a lot more people who don’t want us to win because we won the last one, and well, we take that into account. And yeah, it gets to the players. We use criticism or comments to rebel. To stage a rebellion and make the players play even better.”
Argentina will look to channel this collective rebellion when they take the pitch against Switzerland, aiming to silence their detractors where it matters most
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Switzerland Prepare For Their Biggest Match of FIFA World Cup 2026
As the off-field drama unfolds, Switzerland’s main focus is clear: they need to find a way to stop Messi. The 39-year-old captain has been on fire, scoring eight goals in just five matches and playing a pivotal role in Argentina’s quest to defend their title. His impact was particularly evident in the game against Egypt, where he bounced back from an earlier penalty miss to lead his team to a thrilling late comeback victory.
Swiss manager Murat Yakin acknowledged that there’s no straightforward solution to containing Messi, as he said, “We know that Messi is the best or one of the best players in the world, but in the end, Argentina are not only Messi. Other players are good and we know that we don’t have to be only focused on Messi.”
Captain Granit Xhaka shared this sentiment, highlighting that Switzerland needs to stay organized, close down spaces, and maintain possession to minimize Messi’s influence. This match is a historic moment for Switzerland, as they’ve made it to the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in 72 years. They come into this game unbeaten and brimming with confidence after knocking out Colombia in a tense penalty shootout. However, with Argentina having navigated tough challenges against Cape Verde and Egypt, the Swiss realize they’ll need to deliver their best performance yet to prevent Messi from taking another step toward making history.
