Summary:
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FIFA investigates racist abuse against IShowSpeed during Argentina match, condemns racism, and discrimination, probes continue as tournament progresses.
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Watkins, unofficial online face of tournament, partners with FIFA, FOX Sports, and YouTube, sparking controversy in Argentina matches.
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Accusations of favoritism, cries of corruption, and complaints in Egypt match overshadow Argentina’s tournament journey, probes ongoing.
FIFA confirmed Tuesday that it opened an investigation into alleged racist abuse aimed at streamer IShowSpeed, whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr., during Argentina’s 3-2 Round of 32 win over Cape Verde on July 3 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
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Watkins, 21, was livestreaming from the stands in a Cape Verde jersey when he was heard asking an Argentina supporter what was being said to him. According to the Associated Press and multiple outlets, a fan appeared to tell him in Spanish to “go cry to the zoo,” and reports described a racial slur and a “go home” remark. FIFA said it “strongly condemns racism, hate and discrimination in all forms” and that anyone undermining the tournament’s values “is not welcome in our game.”
Requests for comment to Watkins and his representatives were not immediately returned, per the AP.
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Watkins has become an unofficial online face of the tournament through a partnership with FIFA, FOX Sports, and YouTube, streaming matches to an audience that spans more than 57 million YouTube subscribers and nearly 150 million followers across platforms. His broadcasts have featured FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, which is part of why the incident drew immediate and wide attention.
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The probe lands as Argentina sits at the center of the tournament’s loudest controversies. Four days after the Cape Verde match, the defending champions trailed Egypt 2-0 with about 11 minutes left in their Round of 16 tie before scoring three times to win 3-2, with Enzo Fernandez heading the winner in second-half stoppage time. The result was overshadowed by refereeing decisions.
Egypt had a Mostafa Zico goal disallowed after a VAR review found a foul by Marwan Attia on Lisandro Martinez in the buildup, and Egypt’s late appeals, including an apparent Alexis Mac Allister shirt-pull on Hamdy Fathy and a claimed foul on Mohamed Salah, went unpunished before Argentina’s winner.
FOX’s Rob Green questioned whether the disallowed goal was within VAR’s remit, while officiating expert Joe Machnik argued the process followed protocol because a foul that leads directly to a goal can be reviewed regardless of distance. On UK broadcasts, former players Ian Wright and Jamie Carragher questioned the consistency of the calls, with Carragher saying a comparable incident in a top European league would likely have stood. The Egyptian Football Association filed a formal complaint over the officiating, saying it “cannot remain silent,” while coach Hossam Hassan told reporters he believed the tournament was “directed towards” the defending champions.
Accusations of favoritism and cries of “FIFA corrupt” spread quickly across social platforms, amplified by high-profile voices. Former Egypt striker Mido told The National that “Egypt has tasted the corruption of FIFA,” accusing Infantino of prioritizing commercial interests.
It is worth noting these are allegations of bias, not evidence of it; FIFA has not been shown to have manipulated any result, and VAR experts were divided on whether the key call was correct or merely debatable. Argentina, for its part, advanced on the field and its players and staff have not been accused of wrongdoing in either incident.
Argentina next faces Switzerland in the quarterfinals. FIFA’s IShowSpeed investigation and Egypt’s complaint both remain open, and the governing body has not announced findings on either.
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