Officiating, investigated

2026 World Cup · Captured-data preview

Was it fair?

Pick a question and see which teams the referees treated most — and least — evenly. Every number opens onto the evidence behind it.

Teams 16 of 48
Teams included in every ranking

Across every question

Who came out ahead overall?

A rough combined view of how the calls broke for each team across the questions below — not a single verdict.

  1. Argentina#1
  2. Mexico#2
  3. Canada#3
See the full picture →

The questions we asked

What we looked at

Punishment

Punishment

Were they carded more than the teams they played?

Fewest cards ✓ Favorable

  1. Norway
  2. Argentina
  3. France

Most cards

  1. Egypt
  2. Paraguay
  3. Brazil

Fewest cards is the favorable side — fewer cards than their opponents drew means the calls leaned their way.

Punishment

Do teams pick up more cards than usual when they play them?

Fewer than usual

  1. France
  2. Norway
  3. England

More than usual ✓ Favorable

  1. Mexico
  2. Spain
  3. Paraguay

More than usual is the favorable side — opponents booked above their own usual rate means the calls fell the team's way.

Big Moments

Big Moments

Do opponents get sent off unusually often when they play them?

Fewer than the field

  1. Argentina
  2. Belgium
  3. Brazil

More than the field ✓ Favorable

  1. Mexico
  2. Canada
  3. Switzerland

More than the field is the favorable side — more opponent dismissals than the field norm means the calls fell the team's way.

Big Moments

Did VAR interventions net for or against them?

Net against

  1. Colombia
  2. England
  3. Norway

Net for ✓ Favorable

  1. Argentina
  2. Portugal
  3. Brazil

Net for is the favorable side — more interventions breaking for the team means VAR leaned their way.

Big Moments

Were opponents' goals chalked off in this team's favor unusually often?

None or few

  1. Brazil
  2. Canada
  3. Colombia

Most often ✓ Favorable

  1. Portugal
  2. Argentina
  3. Egypt

Most often is the favorable side — more opponent goals disallowed means those interventions fell the team's way.