Argentina - Cape Verde is a very unexpected KO game in the Round of 32, it will be officiated by Canada's referee Drew Fischer, third game in the competition for him.
Match #86
Round of 32
4 July 2026, 00:00 CET
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
ARGENTINA - CAPE VERDE
Referee: Drew Fischer CAN
Assistant Referee 1: Micheal Barwegen CAN
Assistant Referee 2: Lyes Arfa CAN
Fourth Official: Katia Garcia MEX
Reserve AR: Sandra Ramirez MEX
Video Assistant Referee: Aramando Villarreal USA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 1 : Ivan Bebek CRO
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 2 :Tatiana Guzman NCA

Foul for Argentina and YC missed for Capo Verde at 4’. Elbow in face and SFP.
ReplyDeleteGames would end with less than 7 if you got every card you wanted.
DeleteThks for the ridiculous comment. Good night.
DeleteHe didn’t call the foul because if he had, he would have had to give a yellow card.
DeleteAgree.
DeleteI wholeheartedly agree with you Referee analyst. The comment made by CWY2190 is the definition of ridiculous.
DeleteRomero clear YC not given ‘10.
ReplyDeleteThis World Cup is a total farce. They don’t call anything, even obvious fouls, and then Drew Fischer gives a completely imaginary free kick to Messi when there was absolutely, absolutely no foul here at any point. Unbelievable.
ReplyDelete+1
Delete+++
DeleteLater he gave it back… no foul by Messi but it is still called on him against Cabral:)
DeleteNo foul at all there. All Ball!
ReplyDeleteFischer shows absolutely zero intent of blowing for a foul.
But he realizes that it's his MLS buddy Messi and we get a late whistle.
Gifting Messi a goal scoring opportunity.
You're saying he is corrupt? If not please choose your words more carefully.
DeleteWe are supposed to believe that "Arbiter" is a referee/someone who follows refereeing, yet we have these comments... "The ref is bought"... Profound contribution, Arbiter.
DeleteSorry but Arbiter never spoke about corruption. You interpreted his words like that. It’s obviously different.
DeleteAnd what does saying it's his "MLS buddy" imply? Don't act dumb.
DeleteI'm a realist. I understand that's bothersome to some of you. But I frankly don't care. Much like I don't believe in Santa Claus, I don't believe in FIFA being true and honest. It is what it is and I challenge you to change my mind.
DeleteBut in regard to this match. It now makes sense as to why Collina sent Fischer. They're okay with "burning him off".
I stand by my MLS pal reference. I've seen plenty of Inter Miami matches with Fischer and the way he (and most MLS referees) interacts with him.
DeleteSo, you're saying he is corrupt? If not, please choose words more carefully.
ReplyDeleteYou said it, I didn't. If that's where my comment takes you. That's on you pal. I simply stated what everybody should have been able to see.
DeleteI don't envy the Cabo Verde manager. The man and his team are up against it all. And when I say, "against it all", I mean every aspect of the game.
ReplyDeleteEasy half in this match. Average performance by Fischer with a big foul forgotten for Argentina at 4’ and a stonewall invented one for Messi. Nothing special to say in addition.
ReplyDeleteI would add non-linear technical decisions and a personality deficit that is making him too weak
DeletePersonality?
DeleteFischer has the personality of a limp pasta noodle.
So, no surprise there.
Half time overall good performance from the Canadian referee Fischer and his crew nothing to expect in the second half still we it will be one way traffic
ReplyDeleteClear YC missed to Romero at 58min
ReplyDeleteBig mistake to not issue YC there even for WC26
ReplyDeleteIs there more crystal clear missed yc than this?
ReplyDeleteBut HOW On EARTH Romero isn’t booked for his harsh foul. That’s too much…too much !
ReplyDeleteThe reason is pretty straight forward. But I'll be accused of certain things if say it. ; )
DeleteOoooh, things get interesting when one of the actors doesn't stick to the script. Hahaha
ReplyDeleteLet's see how this plays out.
More Messi favouritism with the YC at 68’ when Romero didn’t get one.. terrible look for Collina
ReplyDeleteIt's not terrible,his fans(plenty of them) will say its justufied.
DeleteSticking to the "script"?
DeleteWhat kind of yc is this..
ReplyDeleteVery soft, but Messi is in question.
And of course unsurprisingly the Cabo Verdean player DOES get booked.
ReplyDeleteMuito mal falta mal marcada e cartão exagero.
ReplyDeleteBut when someone pulls His Majesty Messi’s shirt, it’s an instant yellow card: how have we ended up with such a ridiculous way of managing disciplinary decisions in matches? It’s clownish.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to Infantino's money hungry FIFA.
DeleteOne set of laws for Messi ,another set of laws for the rest
ReplyDeleteMais uma falta inexistente esse árbitro tá mal .
ReplyDeleteAnother phantom free kick for Messi. Unwatchable
ReplyDeleteMessi is Fischer buddy. I confirm.
ReplyDeleteWhat was this??
ReplyDeleteLooks like Messi can choose when to take free kicks before the whistle too!
ReplyDeleteThe whistle was heard though…
DeleteMy bad. You don’t blow the whistle when the wall is still being set up though
Delete@oliver +1
DeleteWhy is everyone so obsessed with yellow cards? Referees throughout the tournament are showing fewer cards. It’s pretty obvious that’s the current directive. Just accept it and move on.
ReplyDeleteWe are obsessed by justice. And when you saw Romero’s foul and the one carded by other side, you can’t be silent.
DeleteBecause we're not casuals like you. And because some of us still have respect for the game that we love. And we refuse to simply bow down and stay silent as FIFA and its referees piss all over the Laws of the Game.
DeleteLetting the free kick be taken before the goalkeeper is set is slightly questionable management. ARG7 has been telling the referee how to do his job all match. I think a strong word would have helped by now
ReplyDeleteARG #7 is Fischer's MLS pal Rodrigo De Paul. He controls and dominates the referees in the same manner during MLS games.
DeleteUnbelievable.
Deletequite one-sided foul detection and disciplinary control
ReplyDeleteDang, can it be any more obvious? Fischer actually blew for the restart as Vozinha was still actively setting up the wall.
ReplyDeleteThat explicitly goes against basic refereeing 101.
He blew the whistle ay 71:58 when the keeper was in the center of the goal. The keeper then went to the post after.
ReplyDeleteWow we have an amazing exciting finish to the game so unexpected fouls going one for but overall good performance from the ref 77'
ReplyDeleteWhere on earth can the performance assesseur good here ? Good for Messi yes !
DeleteAssessed as *
DeleteThere have been a couple of missed fouls and cautions, but I think much of what is written has been a touch hyperbolic. It has generally been an okay performance
DeleteIn my opinion, follow FIFA guidelines no controversy and avoid headlines==good for me
DeleteAverage one but too much phantom decisions in favour of Messi. Too much.
DeleteBy what is written we see who has sided with Infantino, Collina, Busacca, and corporate interests.
DeleteAnd we see the "radicals" who still have respect for the beautiful game and for the Laws of the Game.
Drew is officiating while wearing a white-and-sky-blue shirt underneath his orange uniform. He has issued a phantom card and made numerous calls favoring the Argentine side. Messi is even allowed to take a free kick while the goalkeeper is still setting up the wall. Poor performance so far.
ReplyDelete+1 on Messi I guess you All forgot he even escaped a RED CARD at one point in group stage
DeletePoor performance but according acceptable
What made it even worse is that Collina came out and publicly lied to our faces by saying that Messi's tackle wasn't serious enough to warrant a Red Card.
DeleteThat bald sellout should just keep his mouth shut. Every time he speaks, he makes it obvious that he's nothing more than a corporate shill. If his referee persona could see what he's become. He'd be ashamed of himself.
Goal kick changed to corner because Argentina ran to Fischer!
ReplyDeleteCmon corner was the correct decision.
DeleteAm I dreaming, or did the referees change a goal kick decision into a corner because the Argentinians shouted at Fischer???
ReplyDeleteQuerem roubar não foi nada de pênalti
ReplyDeleteQuerem roubar não foi nada de pênalti
ReplyDeleteCorrect no penalty/handball. Clearly deflects from head to arm, not punishable
ReplyDeleteVery good no penalty by both the ref and VAR but I think it's a PK in UCL
ReplyDeleteDon’t think at all. Clear deflection by head.
DeleteWrong, That's not a penalty anywhere. Not even for Messi's Argentina.
DeleteComo
ReplyDeleteCava falta esse Messi está mal a arbitragem.
Crucial and correct call not to give handball penalty for ARG 89’
ReplyDeleteSoft call again for Messi. In ALL the others matches, these 3 FK weren’t whistled.
ReplyDeleteThere was a trip. It is a foul. The pulling was also a foul. At the very least they are supportable, but for me correct decisions
DeleteDon’t speak about the pulling but two fouls whistled before which are phantom ones. And when it’s the same on the other side at 98’, nothing. Not acceptable to be so « Messi fan » in the foul management decisions.
DeleteWhere is the foul? Messi clearly dived there
ReplyDeleteClearly tripped his foot…
DeleteFantastic no foul decision! Should be praised for that.
ReplyDeleteMissed foul for Cape Verde in attacking third 90+8’
ReplyDeleteEssa falta no final que vergonha essa no final pipocou.
ReplyDeleteYep,missed foul,potential yc and also potential big chance.
ReplyDeleteUnbelieveable how we waived that off!!
DeleteBall still clearly moving and Fischer allows Argentina to play
ReplyDeleteWell Canuck ref is very biased towards ARG let's call it as it is
ReplyDeleteBut When isn’t Messi who is « fouled »….nothing. What a jole this referee !
ReplyDeleteJoke *
DeleteFapul detection hit and miss
ReplyDeleteVery poor performance from Fischer. I dont understand why did he get this match
ReplyDeleteBecause FIFA had to use the host country referee somewhere in the Round of 32. He's a limited referee, so this is about as far as he's capable of handling.
DeleteSo, Collina figured he'd put him in what was expected to be a one-sided affair.
But Cabo Verde didn't get the memo from Infantino and Co.
Fortunately, this will the end of the line for Fischer.
Missed FK for Cape Verde on the edge of the box before full time, I admit very poor refereeing in the end even for whatever happens in extra time
ReplyDeleteThere was a missed foul and probable YC in minute 4'. There was also a missed YC early in the second half for Argentina. And I'd like to see the free kick set up (whether gk in place when initially whistled) again. But other than that, Fischer has been absolutely fine, only other minor issues. It has been nowhere near the level of disaster that I'm reading about above
ReplyDeleteFine when we see the numerous invented free kicks for Messi isn’t realistic. Sorry.
DeleteSorry but no personality. No charisma. No foul detection clear line except from Messi systematic gifts. Ridiculous card management with shameful no card to Romero. Just a very good point with the no penalty call. Overall, poor performance by Fischer for me.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteThis is turning out to be one of the most outrageously biased refereeing performances in the history of the World Cup. At this point, it already looks like a pro-Messi cult, with Colina completely losing all sense of shame. That last foul in favor of Cape Verde near Argentina’s penalty area—which Fischer ignored—is simply a scandal.
ReplyDeleteI hope you're ready for what's in store for Sunday at the Azteca.
DeleteGol irregular falta claramente ninguém viu que falha Grave.
ReplyDeleteThis is offside now. Clear interference.
ReplyDeleteARG9 offside? Clear impact so must have been onside
ReplyDelete17 keeps him on i think
DeleteHe looked behind the defender who was attacking the initial head on (won by the Argentinian player) for me
DeleteNever. Was offside.
DeleteAgain refanalyst? Offside?
DeleteBut there is offside here ! ARG9 is clearly on active position and played the ball touching defensor !
ReplyDeleteYep,yesterday goal was canceled,now this is given...
ReplyDelete🤣🤣🤣🤣
Replays? No replays? All that tech that FIFA brags about and we can't get a decent replay? How convenient.
ReplyDeleteWhere is replay ? Unbelievable !
DeleteAnd replay shown. Very believable. Very onside. As it looked live
DeleteNot sure what you’re seeing but your commentary is becoming completely erratic. There’s your replay just now, onside but by a body width.
DeleteYes, onside and no clear foul committed.
DeletePK was gifted to Portugal for something very similar. But yeah, we're not seeing what we see.
ReplyDeleteErro grave gol irregular da Argentina e nem o var e nem arbitragem viram vergonha senhor Fischer tem ser punido.
ReplyDeleteEveryones happy now? Talk about reactive comments
ReplyDeleteLot's of comments on here by people who don't usually comment and simply just want Argentina to lose rather than having an objective view on the referee's performance.
ReplyDeleteBut theres some truth to the fact that messi seems to be referees differently than everybody else
Delete