‘They Want Lionel Messi To Stay’, Egypt Coach Hossam Hassan Claims FIFA World Cup 2026 Is ‘Rigged’ After Argentina Defeat
Egypt's coach Hossam Hassan and left winger Mostafa Ziko have accused the FIFA World Cup 2026 of being 'rigged' in favour of Argentina and Lionel Messi, following their dramatic 3-2 Round of 16 defeat on July 7, 2026, at Atlanta Stadium. Controversial VAR decisions and refereeing prompted the Egyptian Football Association to lodge an official complaint.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 has been rocked by explosive accusations of a 'rigged' tournament, following Egypt’s contentious 3-2 defeat to reigning champions Argentina in a thrilling Round of 16 clash yesterday, July 7, 2026. Egyptian coach Hossam Hassan and left winger Mostafa Ziko have publicly claimed that the officiating was biased towards Argentina and superstar Lionel Messi, suggesting an agenda to keep the defending champions in the competition. Lionel Messi Clashes With Egypt Coach Hossam Hassan as Argentina Pulls Off Dramatic FIFA World Cup 2026 Comeback (Watch Video).
Egypt Coach Slams FIFA
The drama unfolded at Atlanta Stadium, where Egypt initially surged to a 2-0 lead, only to see their advantage evaporate in the face of a Lionel Messi-inspired comeback. The pivotal moments triggering the controversy included a disallowed goal for Egypt, scored by Mostafa Ziko, and a penalty appeal for Mohamed Salah that was waved away just before Argentina netted their 93rd-minute winner.
Disputed Decisions Fuel Outrage
Egypt's first major grievance arose in the second half when Mostafa Ziko found the net, seemingly doubling their lead. However, the goal was controversially overturned by VAR for a 'soft foul' by Marawan Attia on Argentina's Lisandro Martínez in the build-up, a considerable distance from the goal. Speaking after the match, a furious Hossam Hassan did not mince words.
“We looked better than the reigning champions—better in everything—but the result was influenced by internal factors on the pitch and external factors off it,” Hassan told reporters. He further alleged, “Perhaps they wanted to keep the world champion in the competition. It's all about money. They want Messi to stay in the tournament.” Left winger Mostafa Ziko echoed his coach's sentiments, stating, “The referee was unfair, unfair, unfair, unfair.”
Another flashpoint occurred late in the game when Mohamed Salah went down inside the box under a challenge from Julián Álvarez, but referee François Letexier allowed play to continue. Moments later, Enzo Fernandez scored Argentina's winning goal in stoppage time, completing their remarkable comeback. This decision, or lack thereof, further inflamed the Egyptian camp, with some critics on social media pointing to an alleged 'big-team bias'. Did iShowSpeed Distract Lionel Messi As Argentina Star Misses Penalty Against Egypt in FIFA World Cup 2026 R16 Match? (Watch Video).
EFA Files Official Complaint
In response to the contentious officiating, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has officially filed a complaint with FIFA. The EFA is seeking an explanation for the controversial decisions and has requested an investigation into the matter, including the removal of the French officiating team for the remainder of the tournament. As of Wednesday, July 8, 2026, FIFA has yet to issue a detailed official response to these serious allegations.
Argentina, with their captain Lionel Messi (39 years old, born June 24, 1987) at the helm, advanced to the Quarter-finals despite the growing storm of controversy. The three-time World Cup winners will face Switzerland in their next match.
Match Summary
| Teams | Score | Goal Scorers (Egypt) | Goal Scorers (Argentina) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Egypt vs. Argentina | 2-3 | Yasser Ibrahim, Mostafa Ziko | Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi, Enzo Fernandez |
Key Incidents
- Messi Penalty Miss: Lionel Messi missed a first-half penalty.
- Disallowed Egypt Goal: Mostafa Ziko's goal disallowed by VAR for a foul in the build-up.
- Salah Penalty Appeal: Mohamed Salah's penalty appeal not given before Argentina's winning goal.
- Fernandez Winner: Enzo Fernandez scores in the 93rd minute.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, continues amidst this swirling controversy, with many football fans and commentators closely watching FIFA's response to Egypt's significant claims.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 08, 2026 10:19 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).