"FIFA reversed its stance and will allow questions and answers in Spanish at all 2026 World Cup press conferences following several incidents that sparked criticism among Spanish-speaking journalists and fans.
The controversy erupted when FIFA moderators prevented questions in Spanish from being asked of players who spoke the language—including Achraf Hakimi prior to the match between Morocco and Brazil in New Jersey. Following the reaction on social media and in international media, the organization decided to modify the protocol.
[...]
The restriction was not related to the players, but rather to simultaneous interpretation.
Until now, FIFA only provided interpretation in English and in the languages requested by the two participating national teams. As a result, Spanish was not always available for matches played in the United States and Canada when Spanish-speaking teams were not playing."
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This text was translated with the assistance of AI and reviewed by Teresa Mioli.
