Last updated: September 30, 2026
QUICK ANSWER
The Egypt vs Argentina round of 16 match ended 3–2 on July 7, 2026, in Atlanta. Egypt led 2–0, but Argentina scored three late goals through Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi, and Enzo Fernández, whose winner came in stoppage time. Argentina moved on to the quarterfinals.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Result: Argentina 3, Egypt 2 in the 2026 World Cup round of 16
- The swing: Egypt led 2–0 before Argentina scored three times in 13 minutes
- Messi: he missed a penalty, then scored the equalizer
- What’s next: no Egypt vs Argentina match is scheduled right now
Egypt vs Argentina: Final Score and Match Facts
Argentina came from two goals down to beat Egypt in a knockout game that few fans will forget. Here are the basics.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Competition | 2026 FIFA World Cup, round of 16 |
| Date | Tuesday, July 7, 2026 |
| Venue | Atlanta Stadium |
| Final score | Argentina 3, Egypt 2 |
| Egypt goals | Yasser Ibrahim (15′), Mostafa Ziko (67′) |
| Argentina goals | Cristian Romero (79′), Lionel Messi (84′), Enzo Fernández (90+2′) |
| Shots | Argentina 19, Egypt 5 |
Argentina also had the higher expected goals, 2.8 to 0.98, according to ESPN. Even so, Egypt came very close to one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.
The setup made the finish even bigger. Egypt, coached by Hossam Hassan, arrived unbeaten at the tournament and were chasing their first quarterfinal. Argentina were the defending champions, and they had already been given a scare by Cape Verde in the round of 32.
Is There an Egypt vs Argentina Match Coming Up?
No. There is no Egypt vs Argentina game on the calendar right now.
Argentina’s next listed games are friendlies against Bolivia, Burkina Faso, and Benin. Both teams are back to regular national-team schedules after the World Cup.
How the Match Unfolded
Egypt controlled the first 79 minutes. Then the match flipped. Here is the timeline.
| Minute | What happened |
|---|---|
| 15′ | Yasser Ibrahim heads Egypt in front. Egypt 1, Argentina 0. |
| About 21′ | Haissem Hassan fouls Nicolás Tagliafico. Mostafa Shobeir saves Messi’s penalty. |
| Before half-time | Shobeir also stops Alexis Mac Allister and Julián Álvarez. |
| Second half | VAR disallows a Ziko goal for an earlier foul on Lisandro Martínez. |
| 67′ | Ziko scores anyway after Hassan’s work on the right. Egypt 2, Argentina 0. |
| 79′ | Cristian Romero heads in Messi’s cross. Egypt 2, Argentina 1. |
| 84′ | Messi smashes in the equalizer. Egypt 2, Argentina 2. |
| 90+2′ | Enzo Fernández heads in Lautaro Martínez’s cross. Argentina 3, Egypt 2. |
Argentina made two changes in the 66th minute, bringing on Lautaro Martínez and Nico González. Argentina then scored all three goals in a 13-minute spell that began in the 79th minute.
Note that some sites list Messi’s goal at 83 minutes. FIFA’s official report has it at 84.
The Moments People Are Still Talking About
A few moments decided the mood of this match.
Shobeir’s wall of gloves. The Egypt goalkeeper denied Messi from the penalty spot, then stopped Mac Allister and Álvarez. It was Messi’s second missed penalty of this World Cup.
The VAR twist. Ziko’s first goal was ruled out, which kept the score at 1–0 for a while. After Fernández’s winner, ESPN reported that Egypt were furious that VAR did not step in.
Messi’s record. His equalizer was his eighth goal of the tournament and his 21st at World Cups, which extended his all-time record.
A World Cup milestone. FIFA noted that Fernández’s stoppage-time header was the 3,000th goal in World Cup history.
Messi’s reaction. After the penalty miss, Messi said he felt he had let the team down. He was in tears at the final whistle, NBC reported.
What the Result Meant for Each Team
Egypt: A Historic Run Ends in Heartbreak
Egypt lost, but the tournament still changed their story. They won a World Cup match for the first time in history, then won a knockout game for the first time. Before this summer, Egypt had played three World Cups without a single win. Here is how their run went.
| Round | Result |
|---|---|
| Group G | Belgium 1–1, New Zealand 3–1 (first World Cup win), Iran 1–1 |
| Round of 32 | Australia 1–1, won 4–2 on penalties (first knockout win) |
| Round of 16 | Lost 3–2 to Argentina |
Emam Ashour scored against Belgium and Australia. Mohamed Salah, Mostafa Ziko, and Trézéguet scored in the 3–1 win over New Zealand.
Egypt finished second in Group G behind Belgium, separated only on goal difference. Reaching the round of 16 tied their best-ever World Cup finish, which had stood since 1934.
Argentina: Survival, Then a Final
The win kept Argentina’s title defense alive. The team had won Group J with three wins from three, and Messi passed Miroslav Klose as the World Cup’s all-time top scorer along the way.
Once the knockout rounds began, things got harder. Argentina did not lead going into the 90th minute in any of its knockout games. Its run looked like this:
- Quarterfinal: beat Switzerland 3–1 in extra time
- Semifinal: beat England 2–1
- Final: lost 1–0 to Spain in extra time on July 19
Spain won through a Ferran Torres goal in extra time. Fernández, who scored the winner against Egypt, was sent off for a second yellow card just before extra time began.
Egypt vs Argentina Head-to-Head Record
The two national teams have met only twice at the senior men’s level. Argentina won both.
| Date | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|
| March 2008 | Friendly, Cairo | Argentina 2, Egypt 0 |
| July 7, 2026 | World Cup round of 16 | Argentina 3, Egypt 2 |
That makes the all-time senior record two wins for Argentina, no draws, and no wins for Egypt. The goal count is 5–2.
The 2008 friendly was played at Cairo International Stadium in front of about 45,000 fans. Argentina were coached by Alfio Basile, and Egypt by Hassan Shehata.
The teams also met at the 2021 Olympics, when Argentina’s under-23 side won 1–0. That was a youth-level game, so it is not part of the senior record.
Three Takeaways From Egypt vs Argentina
Looking back, three things stand out from the match.
- Egypt nearly held on. They defended well for long stretches and went two goals up. The collapse came in a 13-minute spell, and Argentina’s shot count (19 to 5) showed the pressure that built up.
- Argentina kept finding a way. They scored late and won late, which became a pattern across their knockout run. The final against Spain was a different story.
- Shobeir was the story until the end. Three big saves kept Egypt in front for most of the game.
Egypt vs Argentina FAQ
Who won Egypt vs Argentina?
Argentina won 3–2 in the 2026 World Cup round of 16 on July 7. They trailed 2–0 before scoring three late goals. Argentina then reached the final, where they lost 1–0 to Spain in extra time.
Who scored in Egypt vs Argentina?
Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Ziko scored for Egypt. Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi, and Enzo Fernández scored for Argentina. Fernández’s goal came in the second minute of stoppage time and decided the match. Ibrahim’s header in the 15th minute and Ziko’s goal in the 67th gave Egypt their two-goal lead.
Did Messi score against Egypt?
Yes. Messi scored the equalizer in the 84th minute. Earlier, he missed a penalty when Mostafa Shobeir saved it. He also set up Romero’s goal with a cross, so he had a hand in two of the three.
Has Egypt ever beaten Argentina?
No. The two teams have met twice at the senior men’s level, in a 2008 friendly and the 2026 World Cup. Argentina won 2–0 and 3–2. Egypt have never won or drawn against them. Argentina’s under-23 team also beat Egypt’s at the 2021 Olympics, but that game is not counted.
When do Egypt and Argentina play again?
No rematch is scheduled. Argentina’s next listed games are friendlies against Bolivia, Burkina Faso, and Benin. Neither team lists a game against the other. Check the official FIFA or federation pages for any new fixture announcements.
The Bottom Line
Egypt vs Argentina ended 3–2 in Atlanta, and it will be talked about for years. Egypt led by two goals with 11 minutes left, then watched Argentina score three times.
For Egypt, the run still set new marks, with a first World Cup win and a first knockout win. For Argentina, it was one of several close calls on the way to the final.
Argentina went on to reach the final. Egypt went home with a run they had never had before.
No rematch is scheduled. Egypt’s World Cup history now has a new high point.
Bookmark this page and check back if the two teams are ever drawn together again.
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