Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan has launched a scathing attack on FIFA and the match officials following his side’s heartbreaking 3-2 defeat to Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16, claiming the reigning champions received preferential treatment to keep Lionel Messi’s tournament alive.
The Pharaohs looked on course for one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history after racing into a two-goal lead against the defending champions. However, Argentina produced a stunning late comeback, with goals from Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernández securing a dramatic victory and a place in the quarter-finals.
Speaking after the match, Hassan insisted his players deserved more from the contest and questioned several key officiating decisions.
“We looked better than the reigning champions,” Hassan said, alleging that officials appeared determined to ensure Messi and Argentina advanced further in the competition. He described the defeat as “an injustice” and suggested external influences affected the outcome.
Controversial Decisions Fuel Egypt’s Anger
Much of Egypt’s frustration centered on a disallowed goal by Mostafa Zico, which was overturned after VAR detected a foul earlier in the build-up. The Egyptians were also furious that Mohamed Salah was not awarded a penalty following a challenge moments before Argentina scored the decisive goal.
Hassan argued that similar incidents were judged differently during the match, leaving his team convinced they had been treated unfairly. Egypt’s football federation later escalated the matter by submitting an official complaint to FIFA, reportedly calling for the removal of the referee and his officiating team from the remainder of the tournament.
FIFA Defends Match Officials
FIFA has strongly rejected suggestions of bias.
FIFA’s refereeing chief, Pierluigi Collina, defended the officials, insisting that VAR was applied correctly throughout the match. According to Collina, the disallowed Egyptian goal was rightly overturned because of a foul in the build-up, while the incident involving Salah did not meet the threshold for a penalty, describing it as normal football contact.
Collina also warned that unfounded accusations against referees could endanger officials and undermine confidence in the integrity of the game.
A Historic Campaign Ends In Heartbreak
Despite the painful elimination, Egypt’s World Cup campaign has been widely praised. The Pharaohs reached the knockout stage for the first time in decades and came within minutes of eliminating the defending champions before Argentina’s remarkable comeback.
While Hassan’s comments have sparked widespread debate across the football world, the controversy has added another dramatic chapter to an already memorable World Cup, with Argentina progressing to the quarter-finals and Egypt left to reflect on what might have been.
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