The ongoing 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico is not devoid of heartbreaking decisions by on-field officials influenced by the Video Assistant Referees (VAR) that have denied some teams a point, a victory, qualification for the knockout round, and even consolation goals.

Below are the goals celebrated in the group stage of the ongoing tournament that referees later overturned as offside after a VAR review.

Algeria vs Argentina 

In Algeria’s first Group J match against Argentina at the GEHA Field in Missouri, U.S., on June 17, Fares Chaibi of Eintracht Frankfurt thought he had given his country a dream start when he slotted home from a through pass by Bayern Leverkusen’s Ibrahim Maza.

However, the referee Szymon Marciniak from Poland received a VAR review to overturn the goal and did not bother to check the monitor.

The North Africans went on to lose the game 3-0, but went on to defeat Jordan 2-1 and draw 3-3 against Austria to finish the group with four points, and qualify for the round of 32 as one of the best third-placed teams in the tournament.

Spain vs Saudi Arabia

In the second Group H match against Saudi Arabia, at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 21, Spain was leading 4-0 when Tottenham’s Pedro Porro, in the 92nd minute, laid a pass in the box to Barcelona’s Ferran Torres, who booted it home.

However, after a VAR review, referee Raphael Claus from Brazil disallowed the goal and ruled Torres offside.

The former world champions qualified for the round of 32 as group winners with seven points, after a goalless draw against Cape Verde and a lone goal victory against Uruguay.

Iran vs Belgium

In the 25th minute of their second Group G match at the SoFi Stadium in California, on June 21, Iran’s 36-year-old Ramin Rezaeian, who plays for Esteghlal, positioned himself in front of the box for a direct free-kick. He, however, deceived the Belgian wall by laying a pass to 33-year-old Mehdi Taremi of Olympiacos, who slotted the ball home to put the Asian team in front.

However, their celebrations were cut short after a VAR check by Argentine referee Dario Herrera, who deemed Taremi to have been in an offside position as soon as the pass was kicked. The match ended goalless.

Despite not losing any match, and after also drawing 2-2 against New Zealand and 1-1 against Egypt, they crashed out of the tournament, finishing third in the group with three points.

Iran vs Egypt

A victory against Egypt in their final Group G game at Lumen Field in Washington on June 17 would send Iran into the knockout stage for the first time in their World Cup history.

Both teams were playing 1-1 when, in the 93rd minute, the Egyptian defence blocked several Iranian shots in the box until 37-year-old Shojae Khalilzadeh of Tractor FC eventually bundled the ball home from close range, sending his teammates, coaches and fans into a frenzy of celebration.

However, referee Szymon Marciniak from Poland shattered their hearts after a VAR check, ruling Khalilzadeh offside and denying Iran all three points, sending them packing from the tournament.