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WM 2026July 23, 2026

Egypt's defeat against Argentina 'clearly a rigged game'

Hossam Hassan criticized the referees after Egypt's 3-2 loss to Argentina at the World Cup, claiming it was a rigged game.

Egypt's defeat against Argentina 'clearly a rigged game'

Egypt's defeat against Argentina 'clearly a rigged game',

According to Soccernews.

Background

Egypt produced a historic performance in this game, becoming the only African team ever to lead by two goals against the reigning world champions. Hossam Hassan, as a former player and current coach, will continue to play a key role in the team's development as they prepare for the next qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. The controversies surrounding refereeing decisions could also affect team dynamics and public support.

Why this is important

Egypt's defeat against Argentina not only has an impact on the course of the 2026 World Cup, but also on the team's morale. Hossam Hassan's allegations of refereeing errors raise questions about the fairness of the competition, particularly for a team that came so close to victory in its first knockout round at a World Cup. These controversies could influence the perception of the Egypt 2026 World Cup club and reignite the discussion about refereeing decisions in football.

Key findings

  • Egypt's defeat against Argentina 'clearly a rigged game'.
  • Hossam Hassan criticized the referees after Egypt's 3-2 loss to Argentina at the World Cup, claiming it was a rigged game.
  • Egypt’s defeat to Argentina ‘clearly a rigged match’, says Hassan.
Hossam Hassan believes Egypt's dramatic 3-2 defeat by Argentina at the World Cup was a "clearly rigged game". He added that his team was "unfairly cheated". Egypt, playing in their first World Cup round of 16, were on course to pull off a major upset after taking a two-goal lead. Yasser Ibrahim gave Egypt the lead with a header in the 15th minute before Mostafa Zico, whose earlier goals were canceled by VAR, made it 2-0 in the 67th minute. But two goals in just four minutes from Cristian Romero and Lionel Messi turned the game around before Enzo Fernandez scored the winner in stoppage time. Egypt became the only African team to ever lead by two goals against the reigning world champions in a World Cup match, but failed to hold on to victory. Hassan spoke out in an energetic press conference and sharply criticized the referees. Zico's disallowed goal came after a foul by Marwan Attia on Lisandro Martinez in the build-up, while late penalty appeals after a move on Hamdy Fathy were ignored by Alexis Mac Allister before Fernandez scored the late goal. "I don't want to sugarcoat it and call it bad luck. We were unfairly cheated today, we were wronged," Hassan said in an explosive press conference. "I will say what I think, regardless of the consequences. This was clearly a rigged game and the whole world saw it. And I would like to say this: If you want Argentina to win so badly, why are you asking everyone to take part?" Image Hassan continued his remarks during the press conference, with most of his complaints focusing on the lack of intervention in the Fathy incident. "We didn't see any respect or fair play. There was no respect or fair play," Hassan added. "A penalty was disallowed, wasn't even reviewed by VAR. A second goal was remarkably disallowed. There wasn't even a VAR review, even though we all saw the picture of the shirt being retired." Egypt's early lead looked in danger when Haissem Hassan fouled Nicolas Tagliafico in the penalty area, but Mostafa Shobeir brilliantly saved Messi's penalty. "Even if the goals came from mistakes, the biggest mistake is not getting what you deserve from those who are responsible for the decisions," Hassan continued. "I'm the type of person who hates losing. And when it's a defeat that feels as unfair as today, all I can tell the fans is not to be upset. We wanted to give them so much more joy." Hassan also stated that he would not be watching any further games in the current World Cup due to the injustice he had experienced. "I will no longer follow the games in this World Cup," he said. "This is my way of expressing myself."

What happens next

After this dramatic defeat, Egypt will need to focus on analyzing performance to prepare for future challenges. The players and coaches will work through the critical points from the game against Argentina in order to optimize their tactics for the next games. Looking ahead to the 2026 World Cup, it could be crucial for Egypt to learn from this experience and better position itself for the next World Cup.

Frequently asked questions

How did the game between Egypt and Argentina end?

Egypt lost 2:3 against Argentina.

How did the defeat affect the 2026 World Cup table?

The effects on the table or the standings were not mentioned in the article.

When will Egypt next play in the 2026 World Cup?

Egypt's next game in the 2026 World Cup was not mentioned in the article.

Who scored the goals for Egypt against Argentina?

Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Zico scored the goals for Egypt.

What did Hossam Hassan say about the game?

Hossam Hassan described the game as 'clearly rigged' and criticized the shooting judge.

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Häufig gestellte Fragen

How did the match between Egypt and Argentina end?
Egypt lost 2-3 to Argentina.
How did the defeat affect the 2026 World Cup table?
The impact on the table or the standings was not mentioned in the article.
When will Egypt next play in the 2026 World Cup?
Egypt's next game in the 2026 World Cup was not mentioned in the article.
Who scored the goals for Egypt against Argentina?
Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Zico scored the goals for Egypt.
What did Hossam Hassan say about the game?
Hossam Hassan described the game as 'clearly rigged' and criticized the referees.
What is the next fixture to watch?
Fans should follow the involved clubs' upcoming schedules as coaches react to this result in their preparation.