Pierluigi Collina, FIFA’s Chief Refereeing Officer, has spoken out about the controversial decisions made during Argentina’s 3-2 win over Egypt amid claims the 2026 World Cup last 16 clash was ‘rigged’.

Egypt’s players and coaching staff were incensed after several decisions went against them at the Atlanta Stadium.

The Pharaohs led 2-0 on 67 minutes after Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Ziko found the net, but Argentina completed the comeback of the tournament so far thanks to goals in the 79th, 83rd and 92nd minutes from Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernandez, respectively.

Egypt had a goal controversially disallowed in the 58th minute for a foul on Argentina defender Lisandro Martinez at the opposite end of the pitch, while the African nation were convinced a penalty should have been awarded moments before Fernandez scored the winner when Mohamed Salah went down inside the box following a challenge by Julian Alvarez.

A series of serious accusations followed, with Ziko claiming the tournament was “rigged” in favour of reigning champions Argentina. Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan added: “They want Argentina and Messi to stay in the World Cup for marketing.”

FIFA’s Pierluigi Collina Issues Statement

Collina, one of the most respected referees in football history, has now jumped to the defence of French official Francois Letexier following the accusations over his integrity.

“Let’s start by saying that we have now played 50% more matches than at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and there are still eight more huge games to be played,” the Italian told FIFA’s official website.

“Overall, we are happy. However, with such a high number of matches played in a relatively short period of time, it is normal that some things do not go as expected. When that happens, they are ready to work even harder to ensure they are fully prepared for the next match.

“Equally, nobody can claim that FIFA Refereeing can be influenced by anyone, not even by the FIFA President [Gianni Infantino]. He has always shown his full support for FIFA Team One while trusting us to work with complete independence. Match officials make honest decisions and, just like players and coaches, they always try to do their best.”

Collina Explains Controversial Argentina vs Egypt Decisions

REUTERS/Paul Childs

Collina then went into detail about the decisions that sparked most debate during Argentina’s win over Egypt.

He continued: “Usually, during a competition, we prefer not to focus on specific incidents. However, as we recently clarified what match officials would be looking for when attacking players try to prevent the opposing goalkeeper from moving and being able to defend the goal, we also wanted to clarify another topic that has generated debate.

“After every goal is scored, the VAR checks the attacking possession phase (APP). If a foul is identified in the build-up and is deemed to have had an impact on the goal, the VAR will recommend an on-field review. There is no defined limit regarding either the distance from goal or the amount of time between the incident and the goal.

FIFA

“We believe that a foul is a foul. Regardless of whether the foul appears ‘obvious’, if the referee did not see it on the field of play, the VAR can intervene.

“Equally, if no foul is identified in the build-up to a goal, the VAR will advise the referee accordingly. Stepping on an opponent’s foot is a foul, whereas a defender who touches the ball first and then makes normal football contact has not committed a foul. Again, an example of this came at the end of the same game.

FIFA’s website provided a fresh angle of Alvarez’s tackle on Salah, showing the Argentina forward won the ball. Rather than appeal for a penalty, Salah got up and ran back as Lionel Scaloni’s side launched their match-winning counter-attack.

FIFA

“Of course, there will always be an element of subjectivity in some decisions,” Collina concluded, “but we are happy with how this principle has been applied throughout the tournament.”

Argentina will now face Switzerland in the quarter-finals before a potential return to the Atlanta Stadium on July 15 to face either Norway or England.

Manchester United are prioritising a move to bolster their midfield this summer, but now they are eyeing a striker signing, according to Football Insider.

The Red Devils missed out on top targets Elliot Anderson and Matheus Fernandes after being gazumped by Man City and Tottenham Hotspur, respectively, but INEOS have responded by sealing agreements to sign Brazilian pair Ederson and Chelsea star Andrey Santos.

Now the club are looking at other positions that need strengthening, and that has seen them take a look at a potential addition in attack to provide competition and depth for Benjamin Sesko.

Man Utd Eye Surprise Move for Brian Brobbey

According to a report, Man Utd are eyeing up a move to sign Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey this summer after his impressive campaign.

Brobbey, who Roy Keane has described as a ‘top striker’, established himself as the starting striker at the Stadium of Light following his move from Ajax last summer, and scored seven goals in 31 appearances in the Premier League, which earned him a place in the Netherlands squad at the World Cup. His form continued there, as he scored three goals in three appearances, before the team were eliminated at the Round of 32 on penalties against Morocco.

United are understood to have been impressed by his performances, and are reportedly considering a move for the 24-year-old to move to Old Trafford.

Sunderland are adamant they don’t want to part ways with their star forward, having secured Europa League football for the 2026/27 season, and they remain confident that they will be able to keep hold of him despite the interest.

The Red Devils are understood to have a number of options on their shortlist, including Brobbey, but the Black Cats are planning to make it incredibly difficult for him to leave, which could see this become a non-starter of a saga.

Striker Needed at Man Utd

via Reuters

Man Utd’s current striker options consist of Sesko and Joshua Zirkzee, with Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, Marcus Rashford, and youngster Chido Obi all capable of filling in if necessary.

But Zirkzee looks more likely to leave than stay this summer, as does Rashford, and Chido would likely benefit more from a loan away to play regularly at this stage of his development. That means a natural number nine signing would make sense, and Brobbey would fit in well.

But Sunderland have shown they are no pushovers with the saga concerning Granit Xhaka and Chelsea this summer, so Man Utd must be firm if they want to get this deal done. The chances are, that if a striker does arrive this summer, it won’t be Brobbey.

Christian Pulisic has broken his silence after being heavily criticised by several former United States stars following the USMNT’s 2026 World Cup elimination.

The USA impressed during the group stages, finishing top of Group D, before securing a 2-0 win over Bosnia & Herzegovina in the Round of 32.

Their World Cup leading goalscorer Folarin Balogun was controversially cleared to play in the last 16 against Belgium, despite being sent off in the previous round, after US President Donald Trump personally intervened.

However, Balogun was powerless to prevent the USMNT slumping to a heavy 4-1 defeat at the Seattle Stadium.

Pulisic Slammed by Former US Soccer Stars

Reuters/Blake Dahlin

Pulisic, the team’s star man, has received the most criticism of any USMTN player in the aftermath of the defeat. The AC Milan forward was on the pitch for 59 underwhelming minutes before being substituted moments after Belgium had taken a 3-1 lead.

“You wanted some of the big time players to step up in big moments, and I’ve got to be honest, I was a bit disappointed in Christian Pulisic,” Carli Lloyd, capped 316 times by the USWNT, said on FOX Sports. “I think, whether he wants to be the star of this team or not, we didn’t see enough from him in this particular game and really the whole World Cup.”

And after Pulisic said “now I get time to rest” in an interview after spraining his ankle during the defeat, Lloyd wrote on X (Twitter): “You rest when your playing career is over. Period.”

Meanwhile, former USA goalkeeper Tim Howard said he could give “very direct answers” if asked about Pulisic’s status as a top-level footballer.

And Landon Donovan, the USMNT’s second-most capped player with 157 appearances between 2000-2014, stuck the boot in further by delivering a brutal takedown of Pulisic’s conduct off the pitch.

“This is an opportunity to help and to change your life forever,” Donovan said. “One of the biggest problems – I speak to people who are at U.S. Soccer. I speak to his sponsors. I speak to his teammates. I speak to the staff and the coaches. People are fed up with the way things are handled around him. And it’s not necessarily him, but it’s his agents, his family, his hangers-on, the people who are influencing. People are fed up with it.

“There’s just this sense about him that you can’t get near him. And I actually don’t think it’s from him. I think it’s from I think it’s from the people around him.”

Donovan added that Pulisic now needs to “man up”. Watch the clip below:

Pulisic Releases Statement

Reuters/David Gonzales

Amid the backlash – which, in the eyes of some, has been a little extreme – Pulisic has issued a statement on Instagram, thanking fans for their support during the tournament and admitting “it simply wasn’t good enough from us in the end”.

“Tough to find the words,” he wrote. “I want to start by saying thank you to everyone who believed. The support carried us all the way through.

“I still feel blessed to be a part of this team. The memories this summer will last a lifetime. It’s just the start for us and for this sport in America.”

Pulisic, 27, is currently the USMNT’s fifth all-time leading scorer with 33 goals. Only Clint Dempsey (57 goals), Landon Donovan (57 goals), Jozy Altidore (42 goals) and Eric Wynalda (34 goals) have more.