FIFA apologise for making Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni wear gloves to touch World Cup trophy

FIFA apologise for bizarre ceremony involving Scaloni and the World Cup trophy

It was supposed to be a routine, grand and globally televised moment: the official draw for the 2026 World Cup, a celebration of anticipation, new matchups and host nations preparing for the largest tournament the sport has ever staged. Instead, the night will be remembered for something entirely different—an awkward moment involving Lionel Scaloni, the reigning World Cup-winning manager, a pair of white gloves and a confused group of FIFA officials.

Argentina’s head coach arrived at the event as the symbolic face of the current champions, the man who guided the Albiceleste to glory in Qatar, ending a 36-year wait that rewired a nation emotionally. Yet the celebration that was expected to honour him quickly unraveled into a bizarre display that no one in attendance—and surely not Scaloni himself—anticipated.

The moment came when he was asked to join officials on stage and pose with the World Cup trophy, a tradition offered to figures tied closely to the title holders. As Scaloni reached out to lift football’s most recognisable symbol, an official stopped him, hurriedly offering a pair of white gloves and instructing him to wear them before touching the trophy.

The confusion was immediate. Scaloni stared back with the polite disbelief of a man certain the situation could not be real. The trophy he lifted in Qatar, the trophy he earned, the trophy his country waited decades to see again—suddenly required gloves.

Within seconds, cameras captured his bewilderment; within minutes, the moment began circulating across social media. By the time the ceremony had ended, hashtags had already gone global, pundits and supporters alike questioning how the world champions’ own coach could be handled with such uncertainty.

Scaloni told to wear gloves before holding World Cup trophy

There are protocols in place regarding who can touch the trophy. Normally, access is restricted to former winners, managers, heads of state and authorised FIFA representatives. When handlers do not recognise someone, gloves are sometimes used to prevent fingerprints and unnecessary contact.

But in this instance, it was Lionel Scaloni—the architect of Argentina’s latest star on the shirt—being treated as though he were an outsider. The perception stung.

Argentina’s delegation reportedly expressed irritation at the misunderstanding. Many present believed officials simply failed to recognise Scaloni, something unthinkable in Argentina, where he has become a national figure alongside Lionel Messi. Even commentators abroad agreed that the situation felt careless, particularly at such a visible moment.

Beyond the embarrassment, what amplified the situation was the contrast: Scaloni’s humility against FIFA’s procedural rigidity. He later admitted that he thought officials mistook him for someone entirely unrelated to the trophy.

Argentina’s group draw—placing them with Austria, Algeria and Jordan—was overshadowed. Instead of tactical debates and predictions of group-stage fireworks, headlines were dominated by a pair of gloves and a symbolic misstep.

FIFA president Infantino apologises to the World Cup winner

FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw – Official Match Schedule Announcement

Recognising that the moment had spiralled, FIFA moved quickly.

At the scheduling ceremony the next day, held as part of the continued World Cup presentation programme, president Gianni Infantino called Scaloni back onto the stage. This time there were no gloves in sight. The trophy was held out freely, cleanly, respectfully.

Infantino addressed the audience with a smile, but also a visible awareness that he needed to correct the narrative.

“I apologise on behalf of FIFA. I didn’t know,” he said, gesturing to Scaloni.
“Of course, the world champions can touch the cup. I apologise—I didn’t know. What an outrage!”

Infantino then added a joke about champions looking younger each day, hinting that perhaps Scaloni’s youthful demeanour caused the misunderstanding. The room laughed, with Scaloni himself joining in.

His reply was understated yet filled with humour:

“I think they mistook me for someone else and wouldn’t let me touch it yesterday.”

In a sport where controversies often escalate far beyond their importance, Scaloni’s restraint ensured the issue remained more embarrassing than explosive. Still, the symbolism mattered. The following day’s corrective moment restored the necessary dignity.

Incident took place during highly-sensitive World Cup draw event

FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw

Part of why the incident resonated so strongly was the context.

This was no ordinary draw. Washington hosted a global broadcast unveiling groups for a tournament expanded to 48 teams—an event that FIFA has marketed as monumental, historic and transformative. The United States, Mexico and Canada will co-host across dozens of stadiums, with record attendance expected.

In that setting, mistaking the reigning champion’s manager hits differently.

Argentina fans reacted immediately. Media commentators in Buenos Aires opened talk shows with the clip. Journalists described the oversight as emblematic of disorganisation. Supporters joked that only FIFA could make Scaloni wear gloves to touch his own trophy.

Others took it lightly, noting that such absurdities often follow global institutions.

Yet the apology mattered. For a coach who prefers living far from spotlight, Scaloni nevertheless represents a nation that defends its icons fiercely—particularly in the post-Messi-World-Cup era, where heroes carry emotional value beyond sport.

Infantino clearly recognised this. The second ceremony was not just an apology; it was a public repositioning. It was FIFA acknowledging that the original incident did not fit the narrative of respecting champions.

Argentina prepare for World Cup title defence after ceremony chaos

Once the noise calmed, Argentina returned to footballing focus. Their draw sees them open against Algeria, followed by Austria and Jordan. While the group appears manageable, surprises are common in expanded tournaments, and Scaloni knows that defending a world title requires composure, depth and continuity.

Argentina will travel to North America as favourites again—not solely because of their roster, but because of the identity forged under Scaloni. He commands an environment where ego takes a back seat to unity, where younger players integrate seamlessly and where Messi found peace leading his country.

The glove incident, rather than distracting them, became a brief anecdote. The squad reportedly laughed about it later—“Only us,” one player joked privately—seeing it as symbolic of how absurd football’s grand stages can become.

For Scaloni personally, it was a reminder of who he has become: a coach who once arrived without fanfare, who was questioned after taking charge, who now stands as a world champion manager dealing with international ceremonies and VIP mishaps.

He handled it as he handles most things—with understatement, humour and the calmness that lifted Argentina from decades of doubt.

A small moment that tells a larger story

When the images of Scaloni finally lifting the trophy bare-handed resurfaced later that night, the narrative had shifted. What could have become a controversy instead became a short-lived episode with an amusing resolution. Supporters applauded the apology, pundits moved on, and the moment faded from headlines.

Yet it also highlighted something fundamental about the sport’s ritualistic side. Trophies are symbols. Events are choreographed. Titles carry rules, protocols, unwritten expectations. When those rituals falter—especially involving the reigning champions—they strike deeper than intended.

For all its absurdity, the episode served as a reminder: trophies belong not only to institutions, sponsorship campaigns or ceremonial scripts—they belong to those who win them.

And Lionel Scaloni, whether wearing gloves or not, is undeniably among them.