Will the crooked path straighten out?

1. Omar Artan

Much has been said and written about the young referee from Somalia. He's considered one of Africa's brightest talents, boasting extensive international experience, particularly in CAF club competitions. He also showcased his abilities at the CAN-2025 finals, held in Morocco six months ago.

It was no surprise when he was appointed three months ago to join the continental contingent of referees for the World Cup. I repeat, three months ago. That's ample time to build dreams, immerse oneself in football, and prepare both body and mind for the demanding task of officiating matches across the Americas.

A dream come true, one that Artan never hid as the ultimate goal of his life and professional career.

FIFA relies on its officials as one of the most crucial elements for upholding the integrity of major competitions, especially a World Cup expanded with more teams, host nations, cities, and stadiums. The organization has a clear obligation to universally and unequivocally support its referees.

Regardless of the strictness of US immigration processes, it was always the responsibility of world football's governing body to ensure that all its refereeing personnel would have safe passage to navigate bureaucratic hurdles.

While it's true that, compared to eight years ago in Russia (where Vladimir Putin opened borders for a true global football celebration), Donald Trump's administration has locked down the country, jeopardizing the credibility of the world's second-largest sporting event (and, notably, the largest will be in Los Angeles in 2028!), it's equally clear that Gianni Infantino's image has taken a significant hit from this situation. And we're only on the third day of the World Cup...

2. Claudia Scheinbaum

For many, it was a diplomatic incident. For everyone, it was a surprise. And a subtle rebuke to FIFA: Mexico's president was not present at the Azteca Stadium for the World Cup's opening match between her country's team and South Africa. According to her office, she chose instead to join ordinary Mexican citizens, watching the game and celebrating the tricolore's victory at a community sports center.

This is, evidently, a powerful signal from Claudia Scheinbaum, at a time when relations between Mexico and the United States have seen better days, and when the World Cup has added points of contention among organizers, precisely due to differing policies on admitting foreigners for various roles in the competition.

Scheinbaum had already expressed visible discomfort when the FIFA Peace Prize was awarded to Donald Trump in her presence in Washington.

Now, in the legitimacy of her presidential office, she found the ideal way to show FIFA that there are multiple ways to celebrate the beautiful game. Infantino, alone in the front row of the stands, gained another reason to start questioning some of the actions for which he is responsible.

3. João Pinheiro

The debut of Portugal's most highly-rated referee is fast approaching. João, Bruno, and Luciano, the inseparable trio, will soon be assigned their first match. Anticipation is building, commensurate with the global scale of the competition.

It's natural that, respecting Pierluigi Collina's characteristic continental neutrality, the Portuguese officiating team's first match will be between non-European national teams. This would see Pinheiro return to Chile, where he refereed last year's U-20 World Cup finals.

The Portuguese referee's presence will, of course, be well-rewarded financially. This represents a career highlight for highly trained and specialized professionals with a global outlook and reach.

Therefore, given FIFA's already favorable financial forecasts, it would be unthinkable for referees not to be well compensated.

They must be, and it's excellent that the Portuguese trio will earn even more, with planned bonuses for referees who officiate knockout stage matches (from the Round of 32 onwards). This would, of course, signify the continuation of their successful and competent run in the World Cup of the Americas finals.

Everything João Pinheiro has achieved so far clearly illustrates the principle that effort and dedication, combined with deep theoretical study and the physical condition of a high-performance athlete, serve as a benchmark and a path forward. They should be a source of pride for the Portuguese, just like their national team or their footballing idols. The whistle will never be less important.

4. Cristiano Ronaldo

Portugal, in recent years, has faced a problem: it confuses gratitude with clear-headedness.

Cristiano Ronaldo, as I've written and said countless times, is, for many, the greatest player in football history, and for all, he will always be one of the best.

He is an elite athlete, demonstrated by how he has managed his career and by reaching 41 with a vitality that many thirty-somethings (or even younger...) no longer possess for high-level performance.

CR7 is a brand. On the field, off it, in marketing, in advertising, in the football world, on social media. Unavoidable, unique, inseparable from a global sports icon.

No one denies it, nor can they. As lovers of the beautiful game, we can only feel rewarded by everything the Madeiran star has built throughout his brilliant career.

Having said that, from a competitive standpoint, Cristiano is no longer the asset he was for the Portuguese squad for many years. He's a locker room pillar and a source of unity and motivation, but that doesn't mean he has to be a starter.

It becomes evident, in various moments of too many games, that Portugal plays more fluidly and offers different opportunities to maximize the characteristics of other great players when the Al Nassr forward is not on the field.

He will always be an excellent trump card, a burst of joy for the team and respect for opponents, if he plays thirty to forty minutes. I emphasize: I don't believe his starting position is justified at this moment, with the squad Roberto Martínez has at his disposal.

However, I'm almost certain he will start. But gratitude alone cannot rhyme with clear-headedness.