In a dramatic encounter at Atlanta Stadium, Egypt faced a heartbreaking exit from the World Cup 2026 after leading Argentina 2-0 with just 12 minutes remaining. The Pharaohs were on the verge of securing their first-ever quarter-final spot, but the match took a swift turn against them.

Argentina's Stunning Comeback

As the clock ticked down, Cristian Romero brought Argentina back into the match with a goal in the 79th minute. Egypt, despite their earlier dominance, struggled to maintain composure. Just four minutes later, Lionel Messi equalized, leveling the score at 2-2. Enzo Fernandez then completed the remarkable turnaround, scoring in the second minute of stoppage time, leaving Egypt devastated.

Controversy Surrounds the Match

Egypt's frustration was compounded by a controversial VAR decision that ruled out a second goal by Mostafa Zico due to a foul committed earlier in the play. Additionally, they believed that Mohamed Salah was fouled in Argentina's penalty area just before the winning goal was scored. Following the match, many Egyptian players were left in disbelief, collapsing on the pitch as the final whistle blew.

In a post-match interview, Egypt's head coach Hossam Hassan expressed his outrage, claiming his team had been "treated unfairly" and had "suffered injustice." He questioned the integrity of the officiating, suggesting that there were external pressures favoring Argentina and Messi. "There have been a lot of things to be questioned on and off the pitch," he stated, highlighting the negative aspects surrounding the match.

This encounter will be remembered not only for its thrilling conclusion but also for the controversies that marred Egypt's hopes of advancing in the tournament.