Egypt’s remarkable 2026 FIFA World Cup journey came to a heartbreaking end after Argentina staged a stunning late comeback to claim a dramatic 3-2 victory in the Round of 16, leaving the Pharaohs frustrated over several controversial refereeing decisions.
Leading 2-0 with just 11 minutes remaining, Egypt looked destined for a famous victory before Argentina mounted a sensational fightback through Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernandez to book their place in the quarter-finals.
The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) expressed disappointment with several key officiating decisions that it claimed had a direct impact on the outcome of the match. The controversy has fuelled renewed debate over the consistency of VAR and refereeing standards throughout the tournament.
One of the biggest flashpoints came in the 62nd minute when Mostafa Zico had a goal ruled out following a VAR review after Marwan Attia was judged to have fouled Lisandro Martinez during the build-up. Zico eventually found the net again just five minutes later with a legitimate goal to restore Egypt’s advantage.
Egypt also felt aggrieved after a late appeal for a foul on Mohamed Salah inside the penalty area was waved away. Moments later, Argentina launched the attack that ended with Enzo Fernandez heading home the winning goal from Lautaro Martinez’s cross.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the EFA said several major incidents had raised “serious concerns” over the consistency and fairness of decisions that directly influenced the match.
Despite the disappointment, Egypt’s own tactics also came under scrutiny after the team retreated deep into defence while protecting its two-goal lead, allowing Argentina to dominate possession and build momentum. Earlier in the match, coach Hossam Hassan had surprised many by adopting a more attacking approach and assigning multiple defenders to closely mark Lionel Messi.
The loss was further compounded by the first-half injury to midfielder Emam Ashour, who was forced off at half-time with what appeared to be a groin injury.
Although their campaign ended in disappointment, Egypt can still look back on the tournament with pride. The Pharaohs recorded their first-ever FIFA World Cup victory, successfully progressed beyond the group stage for the first time and reached the Round of 16, marking their best World Cup performance to date.
“While the result is now part of history, our pride in this team remains unchanged. Their courage, commitment and fighting spirit throughout the tournament earned respect and reflected the true values of Egyptian football,” the EFA said.
