ISLAMABAD: Football commentator Ahmer Naqvi told "South Speaks with Saqib" that the 2026 World Cup has become the most politically controversial tournament in the competition's history, surpassing Qatar 2022, Russia 2018, and Argentina 1978.
Speaking from Canada about the controversies surrounding the ongoing World Cup, Naqvi said the overturning of a US player's suspension had no modern precedent.
"You really have to go back to the 1960s to find an example of a home player having his red card overturned," he said, describing the episode as a form of corruption that "far surpasses" anything seen at previous tournaments.
Naqvi also addressed Iran's participation while at war with host nation the United States.
He said Iran's performance, in which the team reportedly drew every match, ranked among the "most incredible" in World Cup history given the disruption surrounding the team.
Organizers had options to ease logistical challenges, he said, such as basing Iran's matches in Mexico, but instead made the team's participation "as difficult as possible."
He also referenced the deportation of a match official during the tournament and controversial officiating in the Egypt–Argentina fixture.
Naqvi cautioned against singling out the United States, noting that Canada had rejected a comparable number of visa applications from countries in the Global South during the tournament.
On the enforcement of anti-discrimination rules, Naqvi said FIFA had failed to protect players and coaches on the pitch, citing an incident in which the Egyptian coach received a yellow card after making an anti-racism gesture during a dispute with a referee.
He said FIFA's failures on the pitch reflected a broader apathy toward racism in football that predates this tournament.
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