2026 World Cup: Supporters of Ronaldo fuel speculation that FIFA is biased towards Messi, says Mikel Obi

Former Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi has vehemently denied claims that FIFA is unfairly favouring Lionel Messi and Argentina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, attributing such conspiracy theories to supporters of Cristiano Ronaldo.

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Mikel's remarks were made in response to comments by former England midfielder Joe Cole, who suggested that the "whole world wants Messi in the final" and that Argentina might employ underhanded tactics to win their World Cup semi-final match against England, scheduled for Wednesday.

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Cole claimed that FIFA's alleged bias towards Messi is subconscious, stating "FIFA wants Messi to get to the final" and that the world's desire to see Messi play could influence the outcome of the match.

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Cole also warned that England would need to contend with Argentina's potentially unsportsmanlike behaviour, citing a past incident involving Simeone and Beckham as an example of the Albiceleste's willingness to engage in "shithousery" to gain an advantage.

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Cole specifically predicted that Argentina would target Jude Bellingham, with De Paul likely to "niggle" at him, and acknowledged that Bellingham often plays on the edge.

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However, Cole clarified that he was not accusing FIFA of manipulating matches, instead suggesting that the global desire to see Messi succeed was driving the perceived bias towards Argentina.

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Mikel responded to Cole's comments by dismissing the idea of a conspiracy, saying "I'm not buying into that bullshit" and attributing the theories to Ronaldo fans.

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According to Mikel, Argentina's favourable path in the tournament was a result of their own successes, having won their group and thereby avoiding tougher opponents.

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Mikel argued that Argentina's performance was the result of their own merits, with Messi "doing his job" by playing well, scoring goals, and breaking records.

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If Argentina were to defeat England, Mikel believed they would have a strong chance of winning the tournament, with the winner of the match set to face Spain in the final on Sunday.