Argentina knocked out Egypt in the World Cup 2026 round of 16, moving into the quarter‑finals after a match riddled with controversial refereeing decisions. Egyptian captain Mohamed Salah voiced his displeasure without directly attacking French referee François Letexier.
The July 7 encounter saw Argentina dominate much of the game and open the scoring before halftime. Egypt pressed back, but a series of calls - including the disallowing of a goal and a penalty awarded to Argentina - fueled the controversy. Referee Letexier, backed by VAR, upheld his decisions despite Egyptian protests.
At the final whistle, Salah was asked about the officiating. He said: “First of all, it was God’s will. That was the destiny of the match and the result. We had an excellent first half… We made a few small errors and, regarding the refereeing, I prefer not to comment. It’s visible to everyone what happened.” While he avoided a direct jab, he hinted at his dissatisfaction by mentioning the annulled goal and the penalty given to Argentina.
The win cements Argentina’s three‑game winning streak (3W‑0D‑0L) and positions them as a top contender for the title. Lionel Scaloni’s side displayed defensive solidity and attacking flair, strengthening their status among the tournament favorites. Egypt’s exit removes a potentially dangerous opponent and clears the path for Argentina against higher‑profile teams.
Argentina entered the quarter‑finals after a 2‑0 victory over Angola on 14 November 2025, keeping their momentum alive. The squad is gearing up for the next challenge with confidence from having survived a tough round and eyes firmly set on the trophy. The refereeing controversy does not appear to dent the squad’s morale, which remains focused on the ultimate goal.
Riding a recent wave of wins, Argentina aims to cement its legacy at the 2026 World Cup while the world watches every decision on and off the pitch.
