The 2026 World Cup was supposed to be the tournament where VAR finally got its act together. Third time’s the charm, right? Not exactly. If anything, the technology has inserted itself into more moments than ever before, and the results have been chaotic. Some calls were technically correct but devastating. Others were just baffling. Here are the 10 most controversial VAR decisions from this year’s tournament, ranked from frustrating to flat-out infuriating.
10. Egypt’s Goal Scrubbed After a Long Buildup Review
Egypt had Argentina on the ropes, up 2-0 and dreaming of a massive upset. Then VAR wiped their second goal off the board, citing a foul that happened way earlier in the buildup. Technically, it was a foul. But Egypt’s frustration made sense — the sequence lasted multiple phases before the ball went in. They also felt they should have gotten a penalty just before Argentina’s winner. Coach Hossam Hassan filed a formal complaint with FIFA, claiming bias toward the Argentines. Nothing came of it.
9. Ezri Konsa’s Tackle on Prince Adu (No Penalty Given)
England escaped with a 0-0 draw against Ghana in the group stage, but it could have been worse. Konsa slid in on Adu inside the box. It was careless, maybe reckless. Ghana screamed for a penalty. VAR checked. No call. The kind of decision that makes you wonder what actually constitutes a foul in the box anymore.
8. Vinicius Junior’s Goal Disallowed for the Softest Foul
Brazil was already up 1-0 on Scotland when Vinicius poked the ball away from Jack Hendry and scored. VAR called it a foul. Barely. The contact was minimal. Brazil won anyway, but for Scotland fans it felt like a massive break in a moment that could have buried them.
7. Davinson Sanchez’s Offside by a Toenail
Colombia thought they’d scored against Portugal. Sanchez’s finish was clean. But VAR’s lines showed his toe was offside by millimeters. No margin for error. Wayne Rooney went off on BBC punditry: “It’s onside. I don’t care what they’re telling me.” The rule might be black and white, but the application felt ridiculous.
6. Germany’s Goal Allowed After Alejandro Pavlovic Casually Booted Pedro Vite in the Head
Germany scored early against Ecuador. Problem was, Aleksandar Pavlovic’s boot had already connected with Pedro Vite’s face in the buildup. Vite was on the ground bleeding when the ball went in. VAR didn’t even stop play. Should have been reviewed. It wasn’t, and Germany kept the goal.
5. Germany’s Disallowed Goal Against Paraguay (Soft Holding Call)
Paraguay sent Germany home in the round of 32, but Germany had a goal disallowed that would have made it 2-1. Jonathan Tah headed in from a corner, but VAR ruled Waldemar Anton held the Paraguayan goalkeeper. It was soft. The keeper was back on his feet before the header. Germany felt robbed.
4. Croatia’s Equalizer Against Portugal Wiped Out by a Touch Nobody Saw
Croatia thought they’d forced extra time. Josko Gvardiol scored from close range in stoppage time. Then VAR stepped in. The technology detected a faint touch from Igor Matanovic en route to Mario Pasalic, who was offside when he set up the goal. The ball also hit a Portugal defender on the way, but officials ruled the touch wasn’t deliberate. Goal wiped. Croatia out.
3. Kylian Mbappe’s Penalty Appeal Denied (And the Corner Taken Away)
France needed a breakthrough against Senegal. Mbappe went down under a sliding challenge from Sadio Mane. Replays showed Mane got none of the ball. VAR recommended a review. The referee looked at the monitor and somehow stuck with no penalty. Then he overturned the corner, ruling it a goal kick. Even Donald Trump weighed in online. It didn’t help anybody.
2. Folarin Balogun’s Red Card (Later Overturned)
USA striker Folarin Balogun was sent off against Bosnia and Herzegovina after a VAR check showed his studs landing on Tarik Muharemovic’s calf. Slow motion made it look brutal. Real speed showed little intent. The red card stood. Then his suspension for the next match was overturned. The original call still cost the USA a man for most of the game.
1. Lionel Messi Avoids Red Card for a Studs-Up Tackle
Messi opened his World Cup with a hat trick against Algeria. But before the goals, he left his studs on Aissa Mandi’s calf. By the letter of the law, that’s a red card. But VAR didn’t even recommend a review. The referee kept it as a free kick. Algeria was furious. The optics were terrible. If that’s any other player, he’s in the locker room early.
VAR is supposed to make the game fairer. At this World Cup, it mostly made everyone angry.
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