Coach Hossam Hassan questioned several key officiating decisions after the Pharaohs surrendered a two-goal lead in the Round of 16.

Atlanta, USA (Running Africa) – Egypt’s historic 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign ended in dramatic and controversial fashion on Tuesday, with head coach Hossam Hassan accusing FIFA of favoring defending champions Argentina following the Pharaohs’ heartbreaking 3-2 Round of 16 defeat.

Egypt appeared destined to reach the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in the nation’s history after building a commanding 2-0 lead with just 12 minutes remaining.

However, Argentina staged a stunning late comeback, with Cristian Romero reducing the deficit before Lionel Messi equalized to level the contest. Midfielder Enzo Fernández then headed home a dramatic stoppage-time winner, ending Egypt’s dream run in heartbreaking fashion.

Egypt questions key refereeing decisions

The dramatic defeat was followed by strong criticism from the Egyptian camp, with players and coaching staff questioning several officiating decisions they believed influenced the outcome of the match.

Among the most contentious moments was the disallowing of what would have been Egypt’s second goal following a VAR review, with officials ruling that a foul had occurred during the build-up.

Egypt also appealed for a late penalty after Mohamed Salah went down inside the penalty area, but the referee waved play on without referring the incident for a video review.

Tensions escalated further late in the match when a member of Egypt’s coaching staff was sent off, while Hassan himself received a yellow card following Argentina’s decisive goal.

Hassan alleges Egypt was denied fair treatment

Speaking after the match, Hassan expressed frustration with the officiating and questioned whether Egypt had received fair treatment during one of the biggest matches in the country’s football history.

“We haven’t seen respect or fair play,” Hassan said. “It felt like there was a determination to keep Messi’s Argentina in this tournament.”

Forward Mostafa Ziko echoed his coach’s concerns, arguing that the officiating had been inconsistent throughout the encounter.

“The injustice was clear from the start,” Ziko said.

A historic campaign despite heartbreak

Despite the painful defeat, Egypt leaves the 2026 FIFA World Cup having achieved its greatest-ever performance on football’s biggest stage.

The Pharaohs reached the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time in the nation’s history and pushed the defending champions to the brink of elimination in one of the tournament’s most dramatic matches.

Although their campaign ended in disappointment, Egypt’s performances have been widely celebrated as a landmark achievement for the country’s football, highlighting the growing competitiveness of African nations on the global stage and providing a platform for future success.