What is "haramball", a term that became a rage during the World Cup and is Ghana's weapon
The term "haramball" has gained popularity in football, especially on social media. The style of play became one of Ghana's weapons for the clash against Colombia, this Friday (3), at 10:30 pm (Brasília time). Still, many people don't know the expression, who weren't born in football.
The word, derived from the Arabic "haram", means something prohibited or condemned in Islam. In football, however, the term has gained another meaning: haramball is associated with extremely defensive strategies, generally based on strong organization without the ball.
The expression gained strength in the last edition of the UEFA Champions League, especially after the clash between Atlético de Madrid and Arsenal in the tournament's semi-final. The more conservative, or even backward, style of colchonero coach Diego Simeone helped to popularize the term, which led to several memes on social media.
HARAMBALL - SIMEONE extended version 2 minutes
5-0=win
1-0=win pic.twitter.com/PcMOYEpC9h
- Antonie (@tip0DeIncogni) April 30, 2026
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ATM x Arsenal, in the Champions League - Angel Martinez/Getty Images
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Arsenal's Viktor Gyoekeres concedes Atletico Madrid penalty - Julian Finney - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
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Viktor Gyoekeres of Arsenal opens the scoring for Arsenal - Dan Mullan/Getty Images
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Controversial move in Atlético x Arsenal - Angel Martinez/Getty Images
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Celebration of Atlético's draw - Reproduction
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Julian Alvarez and Declan Rice, during Atlético de Madrid vs Arsenal - David Ramos - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
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Atlético de Madrid team getting together before the game - Manuel Bruque
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Arsenal Team - Reproduction
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Arsenal players going up to warm up at the Metropolitano - UEFA via Getty Images
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Atlético warms up on the Metropolitano pitch - Getty Images
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Atlético de Madrid and Arsenal shirts at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium, in Madrid - Reproduction
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One of the great demonstrations of haramball took place in this edition of the World Cup in Paraguay's classification against Germany, in the round of 32 of the World Cup. The team led by Gustavo Alfaro closed down defensively and managed to take the decision to penalties.
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Gustavo Gómez and Paraguayans celebrate qualifying against Germany in the World Cup - Getty Images via Disclosure/Fifa
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Orlando Gill, Paraguay goalkeeper who shone in qualifying for the round of 16 of the World Cup
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Enciso celebrates Paraguay's goal against Germany - Disclosure / FIFA
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Enciso celebrates Paraguay's goal against Germany - Disclosure / FIFA
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Germany x Paraguay moment in the World Cup - Disclosure / FIFA
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Havertz scores a goal against Paraguay in the World Cup - Disclosure / FIFA
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Manuel Neuer, Germany goalkeeper, in Germany x Paraguay in the World Cup - Disclosure / FIFA
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Germany players celebrate goal against Paraguay in the World Cup - Disclosure / FIFA
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Germany x Paraguay bid for the second phase of the World Cup - Reproduction/X @Albirroja
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Germany vs Paraguay match momentum pic.twitter.com/YWF2NwSz08
- World Cup 2026 Daily (@TotalFootball) June 29, 2026
Prepare for the best HARAMBALL of all time. pic.twitter.com/eZyfDv1WYE
- Expe (@Expefutbol) June 20, 2026
One of the "masters" of the style is Ghana's experienced coach, Carlos Queiroz, who has already used the strategy this edition in the 0-0 draw against England, still in the group stage.
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England and Ghana faced each other in the second round of Group L of the 2026 World Cup - Buda Mendes/Getty Images via Disclosure/Fifa
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Jude Bellingham did not play well and was substituted midway through the second half in the clash between England and Ghana - FIFA via Getty Images
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England and Ghana faced each other in the second round of Group L of the 2026 World Cup (Photo by ) - Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images via Disclosure/Fifa
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Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane complain to the referee in England and Ghana - Disclosure/Fifa
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Harry Kane and Jordan Henderson warm up for the match between England and Ghana - Getty Images - Disclosure/Fifa
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The method was also widely used by the trainer in other works. At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, when he was in charge of Iran, Queiroz managed to hold a draw against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal, and came close to repeating the feat against Spain, resisting for a good part of the match before conceding the Spanish winning goal scored by Diego Costa.
For the duel against Colombia, Queiroz will probably have to bet on the scheme again, mainly due to the strength of the opponent. The Colombian team managed to get a draw against Portugal and finished as leader of Group K in this edition.
Attention, the man is preparing another HARAMBALL class
pic.twitter.com/ocgHyahsIX
- Leonardo Bertozzi (@lbertozzi) July 1, 2026
Messi celebrates 39 years with tribute from Argentina at the World Cup
Source: CNN