World Cup 2026: England advances, but 'Cable of God' and contentious VAR call stoke fires of conspiracy
England's advancement in the 2026 World Cup has been marred by controversy following a goal that appeared to hit an overhead camera cable. Fans and coaches have questioned the officiating, leading to renewed debates about VAR and the integrity of the tournament.
Why it matters
High-profile officiating controversies in major sporting events can undermine public trust in governing bodies and fuel widespread conspiracy theories.
See, this is how conspiracy theories get started.
This deep into the World Cup, every goal, every VAR review, every single touch carries possible title implications. And, by the same rationale, every touch also carries the potential for sinister conspiracy … at least in the eyes of those whose squad ends up on the wrong end of the call.
Conspiracy-minded World Cup fans always have a bounty of evidence to fuel their dark suspicions, and 2026 has brought a whole new set of potential reddit threads: overturned red cards, suspiciously late calls, debatable VAR decisions. Saturday's England - Norway match brought us new variants for Norse conspiracists including "The Cable of God."
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