VAR has become one of the defining tools in the FIFA Men’s World Cup, but the reviews have also produced some of the tournament’s most contentious moments. Andres Cantor’s lens on the subject would begin with a simple point: the system is meant to correct clear mistakes, yet it can also reshape matches in ways that leave teams angry and momentum broken.
That tension was on show in several different games. In the round of 32, Croatia’s last-second equalizer against Portugal was called back after a VAR review. The day before the U.S. match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, VAR led to Folarin Balogun receiving a red card, and after Donald Trump called Gianni Infantino, FIFA suspended Folarin Balogun’s ban.
The Egypt-Argentina moment that changed everything
The sharpest example came in the round of 16, when Egypt took a 2-0 lead over Argentina before the goal was nullified after review. That moment altered the tone of the match immediately. Minutes later, Egypt scored again, but Argentina still found a way back and eventually won 3-2.
For Egypt, the criticism of the process is easy to understand. A 2-0 lead in a knockout match is a major platform, and when that advantage is removed after a review, it changes the emotional and tactical shape of the game. The issue is not only whether VAR reaches the correct answer, but whether the delay and uncertainty leave teams feeling as though the rhythm of the contest has been interrupted.
Why VAR keeps dividing opinion
Over the past decade, VAR has become more common in soccer because it is supposed to fix clear mistakes. In practice, though, it has created new arguments about fairness, consistency and timing. The technology can stop obvious errors, but it can also make major decisions feel detached from the flow of the match.
That is why the debate keeps returning to the same point. Supporters see a tool that protects the integrity of the tournament. Critics see a process that can take several minutes and still leave everyone unsure about the wider impact on the game.
The World Cup moments changed by VAR are already part of the tournament story, from Croatia against Portugal to Egypt against Argentina. And as long as the reviews keep arriving at crucial moments, the balance between accuracy and disruption will remain one of the biggest questions in the competition.
