FIFA’s president has apologised to Argentina’s World Cup-winning manager Lionel Scaloni after a mix-up during Friday’s draw saw him required to wear gloves to touch the trophy.
The incident came during the group-stage draw for the 2026 World Cup, set to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Organisers seemingly failed to recognise the coach who guided Argentina to the title in Qatar in 2022.
Scaloni was visibly taken aback and said that the officials did not know who he was.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino aimed to make amends the next day at a ceremony to confirm the tournament’s schedule.
“I apologise on behalf of Fifa. I didn’t know,” he said, calling a now-gloveless Scaloni on stage and presenting him with the trophy.
“Of course, the world champions can touch the Cup. I apologise, I didn’t know,” Infantino repeated.
“What an outrage! It’s just that when you’re a world champion, you look younger every day.”
Argentina will open begin their World Cup defence on 16 June against Algeria in Kansas City. They will then face Austria and Jordan in Group J.
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