Algeria suffered a heavy 0-3 defeat against Argentina in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup. The game was dominated by Lionel Messi, who scored a hat-trick to secure the victory. While the result and Messi's performance captured initial attention, the quality of the officiating has since come under scrutiny. An in-depth analysis of specific match sequences suggests that the refereeing was significantly flawed. A specialized Spanish website has provided evidence to support these claims of poor officiating. The controversy highlights a stark contrast between the match's scoreline and the technical quality of the game's management. These findings were further detailed in a report by TSA.