Egypt claims injustice after narrow defeat to Argentina in World Cup 2026

Egypt's coach Hossam Hassan expressed his team's grievance after a controversial 3-2 defeat against Argentina in the World Cup round of 16 on July 7, 2026. Hassan suggested that FIFA favored Argentina to keep star Lionel Messi in the tournament.

Match Overview: Egypt vs. Argentina

In a thrilling encounter, Egypt initially led the match with a 2-0 scoreline. However, Argentina mounted a comeback, with Messi playing a pivotal role by scoring and assisting in key moments. The match shifted dramatically following a VAR review that disallowed an Egyptian goal and a controversial foul that preceded Argentina’s winner.

Hassan voiced his frustration, stating, "We looked better than the reigning champions -- better in everything -- but the result was influenced by internal factors on the pitch and external factors off it." He emphasized that Egypt's performance was undermined by questionable officiating.

Controversial Decisions and VAR Impact

The match's referee, François Letexier, faced criticism for his handling of the game. Egypt had raised concerns about his selection, citing previous biases. Hassan remarked, "We were objecting to the selection of the referee because of the French situation, but everybody has to suffer at some point, and we suffered."

Key contentious moments included:

• A disallowed goal for Egypt that was reviewed by VAR.
• An alleged foul by Alexis Mac Allister that went unpunished, leading to Argentina's last-minute winner.
• A penalty claim from Egypt for a foul on Mohamed Salah that was dismissed.

Player Reactions and Future Outlook

Egypt forward Mostafa Zico lamented the missed opportunity, stating, "The match was in our hands and slipped away at the last moment." He added that the team did not take their lead for granted, acknowledging Argentina's strength as title favorites.

Goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir expressed pride in the team's effort, despite the late mistakes. He noted, "Of course, some mistakes happened from all of us in the last 10 minutes, but in the end, we are also playing against the world champions."