FIFA president Gianni Infantino has issued a formal apology to Argentina's World Cup-winning manager, Lionel Scaloni, following a bizarre and embarrassing incident at the 2026 World Cup draw.
The Gloved Gaffe at the Draw
The mix-up occurred on Friday, 6 December 2025, during the group-stage draw for the upcoming tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Organisers seemingly failed to recognise Scaloni, the coach who masterminded Argentina's triumph in Qatar three years prior. In a moment that left the football world stunned, Scaloni was instructed to wear white gloves before he could handle the iconic World Cup trophy.
Scaloni, visibly taken aback by the request, later remarked that the officials present did not know who he was. The image of the champion coach awkwardly touching the trophy with gloved hands quickly circulated, sparking widespread criticism of FIFA's procedures.
Infantino's Personal Apology
Seeking to make amends for the public relations blunder, Gianni Infantino addressed the issue directly the following day, Saturday, 7 December. During a separate ceremony to confirm the tournament's match schedule, Infantino called a now-gloveless Scaloni onto the stage.
"I apologise on behalf of FIFA. I didn't know," stated the FIFA president as he presented Scaloni with the trophy. He repeated his regret, saying, "Of course, the world champions can touch the Cup. I apologise, I didn't know. What an outrage!" Infantino added, "It's just that when you're a world champion, you look younger every day."
Argentina's Path in the 2026 World Cup
Amid the controversy, the footballing details of the draw were confirmed. Argentina will begin their World Cup title defence on 16 June 2026 against Algeria in Kansas City. They have been placed in Group J, where they will also face Austria and Jordan as they pursue a historic consecutive victory.
While the immediate error was corrected, the incident has cast a shadow over FIFA's organisational capabilities, raising questions about protocol and respect for the sport's most esteemed figures just months before the expanded 2026 tournament begins.
