The Problem With VAR at the 2026 World Cup Isn't the Technology--It's Who Interprets It

The video assistant referee system, or VAR, has led to some controversial calls at the 2026 World Cup. The penultimate Round of 16 match at the 2026 World Cup between Argentina and Egypt was marked not just by exceptional goals, great saves, and fans devoted to their teams. The match also sparked one of the most widely discussed controversies surrounding the video assistant referee system, known as VAR, a technology designed to assist on-field officials in making fairer decisions, but whose use has been criticized for allegedly favoring certain teams. Egypt was eliminated from the tournament with a 3-2 loss to Argentina, after having held a two-goal lead. The Egyptian Football Association argued that "the failure to properly use VAR" had influenced several refereeing decisions that affected the final score.