The Algeria Football Federation (AFF) has filed an official complaint with FIFA following their team's controversial defeat to defending champions Argentina in the FIFA World Cup 2026. After several disputes over the match, Algerian officials claimed that key refereeing decisions played a key role in the outcome.
Despite the controversy, the match will also be remembered as another great one. Argentina captain Lionel Messi had a hat-trick to guide his team to victory. Messi’s three goals took his World Cup total to 16, which is the joint-most goals in World Cup history and confirms the fact that he is now the greatest in football history.
Messi’s record-breaking night has been overshadowed by doubts about missed disciplinary calls. Messi appeared to accidentally step on the calf of Algeria defender Aissa Mandi in one of the biggest talking points of the game. Many fans, analysts, and former players felt that Messi should have received a red card for the challenge, and the referee did not take any action against the Argentine superstar.
The AFF’s complaint to FIFA is mainly about this, the report says. Algerian officials have expressed frustration at what they feel is an inconsistent refereeing standard at one of the biggest games of the tournament according to the report.
But the complaint wasn’t sufficient. The federation has also looked at another controversial encounter between Argentina’s Alexis Mac Allister and Algeria’s Ibrahim Maza. During the match, Mac Allister was accused of elbowing Maza. It was also looked at by many, who felt it warranted a more severe punishment than what was given on the field.
One federation source said the federation could not remain silent in the face of what it considered unfair treatment.
The complaint is about Messi's challenge, which warranted a red card in everyone’s opinion. There were two elbow incidents, both of which warranted dismissals. We are not saying that the Argentine team was not strong, but we cannot remain silent in the face of injustice," the source said.
While the AFF waits for FIFA’s response, Argentina have already shifted their focus to their next group-stage match. The world champions will meet Jordan on June 28 at Dallas Stadium in Arlington this week as they continue their quest to win the World Cup title.
After starting the campaign winning one game, Argentina are at the top of their group with one victory, and the team will be hoping to make a further statement. Messi will again be the focus, as he is in form for the first time since his opening game.
Algeria, on the other hand, will take things from there; they are anxious and hope FIFA will address their frustration with refereeing. Whatever the outcome of the complaint, the situation has only added to the intrigue in what is already a very interesting FIFA World Cup 2026.
