Egyptian Analyst Falsely Claims Yair Netanyahu Brought Messi to MLS Amid World Cup Controversy

Following Egypt's 3-2 defeat to Argentina in the 2026 World Cup round of 16, Egyptian commentator Mohammad Nour sparked controversy by alleging Israeli involvement in the match outcome. Nour claimed that Israel and FIFA conspired against Egypt, asserting that Israel set boundaries Egypt could not cross and banned the Palestinian flag from the stadium despite billions of viewers. He further made unfounded assertions that Argentina's national team is essentially "Israeli," citing President Javier Milei as a close friend of Benjamin Netanyahu. Nour also falsely stated that Lionel Messi is friends with Yair Netanyahu, who supposedly brought Messi to play for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS).

While Messi has indeed visited Israel, prayed at the Western Wall, and met with Benjamin and Sara Netanyahu, there is no truth to the claim that Yair Netanyahu facilitated Messi's move to MLS. These allegations have been widely dismissed as absurd, especially given Israel's current political and sporting realities, where Israeli teams still cannot host international matches at home. The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously joked about using football stars like Messi, Xavi, and Iniesta to promote peace and tourism in Israel during a 2013 visit by Barcelona players.

The Egyptian analyst's conspiracy theories have drawn criticism for their baselessness and for politicizing sports events. Egypt's national team and fans continue to grapple with the disappointment of their World Cup exit, but the claims linking Israel and FIFA to their defeat have been rejected by experts and officials alike.