Egypt’s remarkable run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup came to a gut-wrenching end on Tuesday in Atlanta, as reigning champions Argentina scored three times in the final stretch to overturn a two-goal deficit and win 3-2 in the round of 16.
The result sent the Pharaohs home just short of a first-ever World Cup quarterfinal and left head coach Hossam Hassan furious.
A Stunning Collapse
Egypt had looked set to pull off one of the tournament’s great upsets. Yasser Ibrahim’s header put Egypt in front, and Argentina were then awarded a penalty for a foul on Nicolás Tagliafico, but Lionel Messi’s spot kick was saved by goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir. Mostafa Zico then doubled Egypt’s advantage in the 67th minute, putting the underdogs on the brink of the quarter-finals for the first time in the nation’s history.
But Argentina responded when Cristian Romero pulled one back in the 79th minute, before Messi buried a loose rebound to level the score soon after. The winning goal, scored by Enzo Fernández, arrived two minutes into stoppage time, triggering wild scenes on the Egyptian bench. Argentina’s comeback was completed with three goals in a span of just 13 minutes.
Hassan Accuses Officials of Bias
Egypt’s veteran coach did not hold back afterward. Speaking at a fiery press conference, Hassan said his side had been “cheated” out of a place in the quarterfinals, suggesting officials may have wanted to keep the defending champions — and Messi — in the tournament.
“We have been cheated unfairly today; we have suffered injustice,” he said. “The cup is directed towards Argentina… We have been treated unfairly today.
“We haven’t seen respect or fair play. There has not been respect or fair play. A penalty was ruled out, was not even checked by VAR.
“A second goal was remarkably disallowed. There has not even been a VAR check when we have all seen the image of the [shirt] being pulled back.”
Perhaps the most striking part of Hassan’s reaction was his vow to disengage from the rest of the tournament entirely. He said he would not continue following any more matches at this World Cup, describing the injustice he felt as too great to watch on.
“I am not going to continue following the matches of this World Cup, this is my own way of speaking up.”
What’s Next
Argentina now advances to face Switzerland in the quarterfinals, continuing their bid to defend the World Cup title they won in Qatar.
For Egypt, the exit ends a historic tournament run that came agonisingly close to a maiden last-eight appearance – and leaves Hassan’s explosive comments as the lasting image of the Pharaohs’ World Cup.
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