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World Cup heats up with Messi's magic, Egypt's bias claims, and Gaza screenings

The World Cup continues to captivate, marked by Lionel Messi's stellar performance, allegations of referee bias from Egypt, and poignant screenings for fans in Gaza amidst conflict.

By World Brief · 2026-07-09
World Cup heats up with Messi's magic, Egypt's bias claims, and Gaza screenings

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Lionel Messi and Argentina achieved a historic milestone by winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup, securing their third title after a dramatic final against France that ended in a penalty shootout. This triumph marked Messi's first World Cup victory, solidifying his legacy in football history.

However, the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup has seen controversy, as Egypt alleged refereeing bias in favor of Argentina and Messi following their 3-2 defeat in the round of 16. Egypt's coach and players expressed strong dissatisfaction with several officiating decisions, including a disallowed goal and unreviewed penalty claims, suggesting external factors influenced the outcome to keep Argentina and their star player in the tournament.

Meanwhile, anticipation is building for the 2026 World Cup final's half-time show, set to take place on July 19th. Global superstar Justin Bieber has been confirmed as a co-headliner, joining a star-studded lineup that includes Madonna, Shakira, and BTS for the inaugural Super Bowl-style musical performance.

What each outlet emphasizes

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olympics.com ↗ apnews.com ↗ washingtonpost.com ↗ cbs8.com ↗ voaafrica.com ↗

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