WASHINGTON: FIFA president Gianni Infantino apologized to Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni after a mix-up during Friday’s 2026 World Cup draw required the coach to wear gloves to touch the trophy.
Infantino invited Scaloni to lift the Cup without gloves during a separate ceremony on Saturday.
The incident came during Friday’s draw for the tournament, set to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, when organizers seemingly failed to recognize the World Cup-winning coach.
Scaloni, visibly taken aback, said that the officials did not know who he was.
Twenty four hours later, at an event to confirm the tournament’s schedule, Infantino aimed to make amends.
“I apologize on behalf of FIFA. I didn’t know,” he said, calling Scaloni on stage and presenting him with the trophy.
“Of course, the world champions can touch the Cup. I apologize, I didn’t know,” repeated Infantino, adding with a laugh, “What an outrage! It’s just that when you’re a world champion, you look younger every day.”
Argentina will open their 2026 World Cup campaign on June 16 against Austria in Kansas City. They will then face Jordan in Dallas and Algeria.
FIFA apologizes to Argentina coach over World Cup trophy gloves rule
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FIFA apologizes to Argentina coach over World Cup trophy gloves rule
- Scaloni, visibly taken aback, said that the officials did not know who he was
- “I apologize on behalf of FIFA. I didn’t know,” Infantino said
Norway’s Carlsen wins first FIDE Freestyle World Chess Championship
Norway’s Magnus Carlsen added another crown to his collection on Sunday by becoming the first official FIDE Freestyle Chess world champion after a comeback win over Fabiano Caruana in Germany.
The chess master secured the title with a cautious draw in the fourth and final game, clinching a 2.5–1.5 match victory against his 33-year-old American opponent in Weissenhaus.
Sunday’s turning point came in the thrilling third game, in which Carlsen, 35, pulled off a stunning win from a seemingly lost position, swinging the entire contest in his favor.
The world number one only needed a draw in the decisive fourth game, and that’s exactly what he got in an equal endgame, with Caruana missing late opportunities to mount a comeback.
Carlsen has now won 21 world titles in various formats.
The World Championship marked a breakthrough collaboration between FIDE and private organizer Freestyle Chess, staging the first officially recognized title in this format.
Carlsen had previously failed to capture the FIDE Fischer Random World Championship, making this victory particularly sweet for the chess great.
In the bronze medal match, Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov beat Germany’s Vincent Keymer, securing his spot by drawing from a winning position in the final game.
Both finalists and Abdusattorov have qualified for next year’s championship.
The tournament’s lower placings saw Hans Niemann of the United States take fifth with a 2-0 victory over India’s Arjun Erigaisi, while Armenia’s Levon Aronian won his Armageddon game against Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov for seventh place.
In the women’s exhibition match, Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva prevailed over Switzerland’s Alexandra Kosteniuk after their final encounter ended in a draw.
