People who actually have more say in deciding fixtures aren't FiFa or big teams or players but sponsors.
Sponsors have massive influence in deciding the fixtures of the tournament and they want big teams to clash at rounds like QF or semis.
Sponsors want big players as they are the brands to go as far as they can in the tournament.
It's all about revenues.
I mean during first round of group stage which day hyped us the most? It was when Mbappe, Haaland, Messi scored on the same day followed by Kane next day.
Sponsors know how to generate revenues and maintain hype.
If we see the fixtures then France, Spain, England and Argentina are clearly placed in separate brackets to ensure they meet in semis and not before that. They are the big 4 of the tournament.
Sponsors want them at that top stages of the tournament.
Infact, I am sure we wouldn't be seeing France vs Germany in R16 if not for Germany crashing out of 2018 and 2022 WC in group stages.
As far as Argentina getting easier R32 and R16 are concerned then it has nothing to do with Argentina.
How many of you have put Portugal to top the group in kicktip bonus round? I am sure most of us did. I did it myself.
Sponsors expected Portugal and Argentina to win the group and they gave easier R32 and R16 to both of them to ensure we have a massive clash of Portugal vs Argentina in QFs.
Messi vs Ronaldo in QFs would have generated revenue more than any other match.
But Portugal fumbled and Colombia got that easier path (deserve it ) to meet Argentina.
As far as onfield Interference is concerned, then it's next to impossible to interfere with so many cameras, protocols, procedures, eyes watching the game.
Referees can make mistakes and simplest reason is people can be incompetent or sometimes it's just a mistake.
Rigging stuff is just outright BS.