Egypt’s FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign ended on Tuesday after surrendering a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 against defending champions Argentina in the Round of 16 in Atlanta.
Hossam Hassan’s side were minutes away from one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history before late goals from Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernandez completed Argentina’s comeback and sent the South Americans into the quarter-finals.
Egypt, only the second African nation after Morocco to reach the Round of 16 at the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup, led 2-0 against Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina before the champions turned it around.
Ibrahim headed Egypt ahead in the 15th minute, powering home to give the Pharaohs an early lead at Atlanta Stadium.
Goalkeeper Mostafa Shoubeir was Egypt’s standout performer for much of the contest, saving the reigning world champions repeatedly. The 26-year-old denied Lionel Messi from the penalty spot after Nicolas Tagliafico won a penalty and also saved from Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez.
Egypt thought they had doubled their lead shortly before the hour when Mostafa Ziko finished after good work by Haissem Hassan and Mohamed Salah, but the goal was ruled out for a foul in the build-up.
Ziko did score in the 67th minute, finishing a swift counterattack involving Salah and Hassan to give Egypt a 2-0 lead with just over 20 minutes remaining.
Egypt were left frustrated by two key officiating decisions. They first saw Ziko’s second-half goal disallowed for a foul in the build-up after a flowing counterattack involving Mohamed Salah and Haissem Hassan.
Then Argentina responded. Cristian Romero pulled one back with a 79th-minute header before Messi levelled five minutes later with a clinical finish.
Moments before Fernandez’s winner, the Pharaohs also appealed in vain for a penalty after Julian Alvarez appeared to clip Salah’s right boot inside the area, but referee François Letexier waved play on. Argentina immediately broke forward and scored the decisive goal.
Enzo Fernandez completed the turnaround in stoppage time, scoring in the 90+2nd minute to seal a 3-2 victory and send Argentina through to face the winner of the Switzerland-Colombia quarter-final.
Egypt’s run was the country’s best at a World Cup since their debut in 1934. After navigating the group stage, they became only the second African team after Morocco to reach the knockout rounds of the 2026 tournament and led the defending champions 2-0 with time running out.
The match also produced several notable milestones. Shoubeir became only the fourth goalkeeper in FIFA World Cup history to save two penalties in separate matches at a single tournament — also denying Iran’s Mehdi Taremi during the group stage. He joins Poland’s Jan Tomaszewski and Wojciech Szczesny, and American Goalkeeper Brad Friedel in that distinction.
Fernandez’s winner also entered the record books as the 3,000th goal scored in FIFA World Cup history.
Messi was named Player of the Match after inspiring Argentina’s late comeback.
After the final whistle, an emotional Lionel Scaloni said, “I can’t look up, I’m sorry. I’m really emotional right now. What a group of players,” Scaloni said.
Fernandez said: “We have a phenomenal group, a group that never gives up no matter the difficulties and adversity. We’re always together. One more step forward,” he said.
