Egypt's head coach Hossam Hassan expressed outrage after his team was eliminated from the World Cup on July 7, 2026, in Atlanta, claiming they were "cheated" in a dramatic 3-2 loss to Argentina. The Pharaohs led 2-0 before the defending champions mounted a late comeback, a result that sparked controversy regarding officiating decisions.
Controversial Decisions in the Match
During the match, Egypt's Mostafa Zico had a goal ruled out due to a VAR intervention, which identified a foul on Lisandro Martinez before the goal was scored. Despite Zico later doubling the lead, the match turned when Cristian Romero scored for Argentina, followed by a goal from Lionel Messi, who had previously missed a penalty.
Hassan criticized the officiating, stating, "We have been cheated unfairly today; we have suffered injustice." He highlighted that Egypt should have received a penalty for a foul on Hamdy Fathy just before Argentina's winning goal by Enzo Fernandez.
Hossam Hassan's Reaction and Critique of Match Scheduling
In the post-match press conference, Hassan declared he would stop watching the World Cup due to the perceived injustices, stating, "This is my own way of speaking up." He also voiced his frustration over the match's scheduling at noon, arguing that it was inappropriate for professional football.
