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FIFA has come under scrutiny after Achraf Hakimi and Vinicius Junior were discouraged from speaking Spanish during media engagements at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States.
The issue was revealed ahead of Morocco’s Group C clash with Brazil when a Spanish-speaking journalist attempted to question Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi in Spanish.
Hakimi, who grew up in Madrid and speaks the language fluently, showed that he was comfortable answering in Spanish; event officials reportedly insisted that questions be asked in English.
Hakimi attempted to reassure organisers that language would not be a barrier, but officials maintained that no Spanish translator was available for the session.
Eventually, a compromise was reached, with the reporter asking the question in Spanish while Hakimi responded in English.
The controversy spiked during Brazil’s media session when Vinicius Junior was also interrupted while responding to a question in Spanish.
The Real Madrid forward, who is more comfortable speaking Portuguese or Spanish than English, was reportedly asked by organisers to switch languages.
Rather than continue in Spanish, Vinicius decided to answer in Portuguese before turning his attention back to Brazil’s World Cup preparations.
The incidents prompted debate among journalists and fans, many of whom questioned why Spanish, a language spoken by millions across North America, was effectively restricted at a tournament being hosted largely in the United States.
Further reports have since shed light on FIFA’s policy.
According to the Spanish media outlet El País, FIFA gives Spanish-language translation services only at World Cup press conferences involving Spanish-speaking nations such as Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, Ecuador, and Paraguay.
For all other teams, questions and answers are expected to be conducted either in English or the official language of the participating country.
The policy has drawn online criticism, with many supporters arguing that multilingual communication should be encouraged at a global event like the World Cup.
The backlash was particularly strong in Vinicius’ case, as the Brazilian forward appeared visibly uncomfortable being asked to communicate in English.
The controversy overshadowed what was otherwise a highly anticipated encounter between Brazil and Morocco, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
With the issue now drawing international attention, FIFA may face increasing calls to review its media language guidelines as the tournament progresses.
