'Rigged for Argentina?' Egypt Files FIFA Complaint After World Cup Controversy

Argentina came from two goals down to beat Egypt 3-2 in their FIFA World Cup 2026 round-of-16 match, securing a place in the quarter-finals after a dramatic finish overshadowed by disputed refereeing decisions.

Egypt appeared set for a historic victory after taking a 2-0 lead with just over 10 minutes remaining. However, Argentina scored three late goals, with Enzo Fernández netting the winner in stoppage time to send the defending champions into the quarter-finals, where they will face Switzerland.

Several key decisions dominated the match. Mostafa Zico thought he had doubled Egypt's lead in the 62nd minute, but VAR ruled out the goal for a foul in the build-up. Later, with the score level, Egypt appealed for a penalty after Hamdy Fathy went down in the penalty area following contact from a defender. The referee allowed play to continue, and Argentina scored the winning goal on the resulting counter-attack.

Lionel Messi played a central role in Argentina's comeback despite missing a penalty, his second unsuccessful spot-kick of the tournament. He later scored the equaliser and finished the match with 12 touches inside Egypt's penalty area, his second-highest total in a World Cup match.

Egyptian officials criticised the officiating after the match. Minister of Youth and Sports Gohar Nabil described the decisions as "clear refereeing injustice" and said they consistently favoured Argentina. Head coach Hossam Hassan alleged that pressure from Argentina had influenced the appointment of French referee François Letexier and claimed FIFA had failed to ensure fair play. 

His crossed-arms gesture towards the referee at full-time was widely interpreted as a protest against perceived racial bias. The Egyptian Football Association has submitted a formal complaint to FIFA, accusing the officiating team of serious errors and inconsistent decision-making. 

Some commentators also questioned the refereeing, with Geronimo Morgans describing the match as "a rigged spectacle" and arguing that Egypt had been denied victory. The match has renewed discussion about the use of VAR in major tournaments. 

Supporters of the system argue that it improves consistency, while critics say subjective decisions continue to produce different outcomes. The decisions made during the match have added to concerns about confidence in the technology and its application.

Despite the defeat, Egypt recorded their best World Cup performance by reaching the last 16 for the first time. Their campaign included victories over New Zealand and Australia before their tournament ended against Argentina.