FIFA’s Spanish Restrictions Put World Cup Inclusion Rules Under Scrutiny
The World Cup features 48 teams and a multilingual media contingent, but English remains dominant in communication protocols, raising questions about the implementation of the ‘Vinícius Law’.
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Is it right for FIFA to restrict Spanish in World Cup media sessions when players and journalists can understand each other?
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Context
At the 2026 World Cup, FIFA faced criticism after Achraf Hakimi and Vinicius Junior were reportedly discouraged from speaking Spanish during media sessions. Officials cited interpretation logistics, including the lack of a Spanish translator in Hakimi’s session, even though Hakimi said he could answer in Spanish.
The controversy raises a broader question about whether a global tournament should enforce centralized language rules or adapt when players and journalists can communicate directly.
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