In the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Argentina orchestrated a 3-2 comeback victory to knock out Egypt and advance to the quarter-finals. In this match, multiple decisions, including a disallowed Egyptian goal and a suspected unawarded penalty, have sparked widespread skepticism. However, several media pundits and refereeing experts hold differing views regarding the correctness of the officiating. Below is a compilation of statements from various parties:
Egypt National Team Manager and Players
Forward Mostafa Ziko:
The referee didn't want us to win. Congratulations to Argentina; looks like they are going to win the title again.
“The referee was not good and was unfair. His injustice was obvious. He was against us from the very start of the match. He didn't want us to win. This was a rigged game.”
“I desperately wanted to bring joy to them (the fans), but I apologize for failing to do so. It wasn't our fault. This referee... it looks like this match was rigged. We were leading 2-0, and he (the referee) came right at us. Congratulations to Argentina; it looks like they’ve captured another World Cup.”
"We never thought for a single moment that the match was dead and buried. We knew we were facing the reigning world champions. Even before the match started, we knew we would be facing an incredibly strong team and one of the tournament favorites. However, if they had won purely on their own merit, it would be a completely different feeling for us."
Manager Hossam Hassan:
Egypt Manager: There are factors beyond the match at play; it's commercial marketing; they want Messi to stay
“Everything that happened today was unfair. We should have been awarded a penalty, but it was overturned. We also had a goal, and I don't know why it was disallowed either.”
“This might be a matter of 'commercial marketing.' Perhaps they want to hype up the World Cup, hoping to keep the reigning champions in the tournament, hoping to keep Messi.”
“There are other factors at play that transcend technique and the match itself.”
Egypt Manager: After the match, the head referee probably felt guilty; when you do something wrong, your conscience haunts you
“Argentina's victory today was undeserved.”
“I guarantee that after returning today, I will absolutely never watch another football match in this World Cup, because there is zero fairness in it.”
Forward Mohamed Salah:
I don't want to comment on the referee's performance; we had a goal chalked off and a deserved penalty not called
“This is the game and the result. We played well in the first half, and we also performed well for most of the second half. We made some small mistakes, and as for the referee's performance, I prefer not to comment. Everyone saw what happened. I don't have much to add.”
“We had a goal disallowed and a deserved penalty that wasn't awarded. Right after that, they launched a counterattack and scored. The head coach congratulated us on our performance in this tournament. He hoped we could go further, but this is Allah's will. We will continue to build on what we achieved in this tournament.”
"We were facing the world champions, and we knew it would be a very difficult match. We prepared fully for this opponent, and that was evident from the very beginning of the game. In the end, this is the destiny that Allah has arranged for us."
Media and Commentators
BBC Egypt Commentator Ahmad Yousef:
Too many inconsistencies in decisions; Egypt's goal was chalked off, but what if it were Messi?
“A sense of immense disappointment fills everyone across Egypt. Right now, there are too many inconsistencies with VAR and officiating, as well as the question of how far back you go to overturn a decision.”
“The referee made a wrong decision by disallowing Egypt's second goal. A long distance had passed during the phase, and the foul itself was extremely minor, so I completely understand why the Egyptian coaching staff and team are so disappointed.”
“If that were Messi or someone else wearing an Argentina shirt, the question is whether there would be the same consistency, and that is what is truly making people upset.”
AS Editor-in-Chief Tomás Roncero:
Roncero: Another World Cup permanently stained! Purely a heartless commercial operation
Egypt's 2nd goal disallowed, Roncero posts: The actions of FIFA and Argentina make everyone want to withdraw from the tournament
“Another World Cup has been permanently stained. A great nation like Egypt does not deserve to be trampled upon like this. This is not football. It is purely a heartless commercial operation.”
“These things happening with FIFA and Argentina at the World Cup make you feel like every team should just withdraw from the tournament.”
