World Cup 2026: France v Morocco quarter-final buildup, Collina defends refereeing – live

As the World Cup 2026 reaches the quarter-finals, FIFA refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina defended the officiating during Argentina's 3-2 win over Egypt, rejecting bias claims and upholding official independence. Meanwhile, analysts are assessing the remaining eight teams, identifying potential threats to France's progression. Attention remains on Lionel Messi, who demonstrated his continued clinical ability at age 39 during the match against Egypt, despite a lower penalty conversion rate than typically expected for the star.