Egypt Accuses Referee of Conspiracy After Controversial Goal Disallowance in Argentina Match

Argentina Wins at the 2026 World Cup

According to Главком: Argentina's national team advanced in the 2026 World Cup by defeating Egypt 3-2 in a Round of 16 match held on July 4. Despite trailing until the 79th minute, the Argentinians staged a comeback. Goals from Romero, Messi, and Fernandez secured the victory.

Egyptian player Mostafa Ziko voiced strong criticism of the officiating after his goal was disallowed early in the second half, when Egypt was leading 1-0. Although Ziko later scored a second goal for his team, it was not enough to prevent defeat. Referee Francois Letexier faced accusations from Ziko that his decisions unfairly influenced the outcome.

'From the very first minute, the referee was determined to make us lose. We wanted to bring joy to the Egyptian people, but in the end, we congratulate Argentina on their World Cup victory. This tournament is rigged-they might as well not play the remaining matches. The referee destroyed the dream of an entire nation, targeting us because we were not supposed to beat Argentina. Let him answer to God.' Mostafa Ziko

Other Match Results

Other Round of 16 matches also took place:

• Canada lost to Morocco 0-3
• Paraguay fell to France 0-1
• Brazil lost to Norway 1-2
• Mexico lost to England 2-3
• The USA were defeated by Belgium 1-4
• Portugal lost to Spain 0-1

The final Round of 16 match between Colombia and Switzerland is scheduled for July 7.

Additionally, Lionel Messi became the first player in World Cup history to miss two penalties in a single tournament, failing to convert spot kicks against Austria and Egypt.

Argentina continues its quest for the 2026 World Cup title, while Egypt exits the tournament despite a hard-fought effort and contentious moments.

This victory highlights Argentina's resilience and ability to overturn deficits, a key trait in knockout stages. Meanwhile, Ziko's criticism underscores the critical role referees play in decisive matches, where their calls can dramatically shape outcomes and emotions. It remains to be seen how these events will affect the tournament's progression and team dynamics.

Argentina's narrow victory over Egypt was marked by dramatic moments and contentious officiating. For a deeper look at how Argentina managed to secure this last-minute win amidst controversy, check out our detailed coverage of the match here.