Argentina is facing scrutiny over allegations of favoritism during the 2026 World Cup. After narrowly defeating Egypt 3-2 in the knockout rounds, Egyptian coach Hossam Hassan expressed concerns about officiating bias favoring Argentina and its star player, Lionel Messi. This controversy erupted on July 7, 2026, following a match filled with contentious officiating decisions.
Controversial Decisions in Argentina's Victory
Egypt's exit from the tournament has sparked claims of unfair treatment from FIFA. Hassan remarked, "Perhaps they wanted to keep the world champion in the competition. Perhaps they wanted Messi to stay in the running." The match saw Egypt leading 2-0 until Argentina mounted a dramatic comeback.
The Pharaohs believe that serious refereeing mistakes influenced the outcome, particularly concerning a disallowed goal by Mostafa Zico, which they argue should have stood. The VAR intervention deemed Marwan Attia's foul on Lisandro Martinez significant enough to negate Zico's goal, a decision that left Egypt frustrated.
Refereeing Standards Under Scrutiny
Egypt's complaints extend to potential penalty claims that went unaddressed during the match. Hamdi Fathy and Mohamed Salah both felt they were wronged by the officials, with Salah claiming he was tripped prior to Argentina's winning goal. Despite the controversies, the evidence does not conclusively prove a conspiracy against Egypt or in favor of Argentina.
