How Argentina Stole a Quarterfinal Spot and Sparked Outcry Across Africa and the Middle East

Argentina came back from 2-0 down to beat Egypt 3-2 in a round of 16 thriller that Egypt's coach claims was decided by cheating—a disallowed goal that VAR reversed on a phantom foul, a missed penalty for Egypt that should have been called, and a general pattern of officiating that Egypt believes favored the defending world champions, sparking outrage across the Arab world, calls for FIFA investigation, and conspiracy theories that the tournament is rigged to keep superstars like Messi in contention.

Editorial Staff · July 8, 2026