2026 FIFA World Cup VAR decisions draw criticism over missed penalties

A week after the 2026 FIFA World Cup concluded, controversy continued over VAR interventions. In the Canada‑South Africa group‑stage match, a clear foul on Canadian forward Richie Laria was not called, and no penalty was awarded, prompting U.S. media to label the miss a major error.

The dispute intensified after new VAR rules introduced just before the tournament were applied in the round of 16 Egypt‑Argentina game. Egypt’s two‑goal lead was overturned when VAR cancelled a goal and rejected a penalty request, leading the Egyptian Football Association to lodge an official protest. Critics from several countries argued that the expanded VAR authority – including intervention on corner kicks and second yellow cards – lacked consistency and caused confusion. FIFA’s VAR chairman defended the system, saying it functioned as designed.

Both incidents have fueled broader calls for clearer VAR guidelines and better pre‑tournament testing.