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Rigged! Egypt Cries Foul After World Cup Heartbreak
7 Jul
Summary
- Egypt alleges the World Cup match was rigged after a VAR decision overturned a 2-0 lead.
- Coach Hossam Hassan and striker Mostafa Ziko claim the referee was unfair.
- Argentina achieved a dramatic 3-2 comeback win, advancing to the quarterfinals.
Egypt's World Cup campaign concluded with a dramatic 3-2 defeat to Argentina on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. The African side, leading 2-0 with under 20 minutes remaining, saw their advantage evaporate due to a controversial VAR decision and a swift Argentine comeback.
Striker Mostafa Ziko and head coach Hossam Hassan vehemently criticized the match officials. Hassan declared the game was "rigged" and questioned the tournament's integrity, while Ziko echoed similar sentiments, stating the referee was "unfair." The pivotal moment occurred when Egypt's second goal, scored by Ziko in the 67th minute after a pass from Mohamed Salah, was disallowed for a foul occurring far from the scoring play.
Argentina, inspired by Lionel Messi, capitalized on the overturned decision and scored three goals in a remarkable 14-minute span. This victory propelled Argentina into the World Cup quarterfinals, where they will face the winner of the Switzerland-Colombia match. The loss marks a significant disappointment for Egypt, who were aiming for their first-ever World Cup quarterfinal appearance.
