Summary

  • World Cup holders Argentina come from 2-0 down to beat Egypt in Atlanta

  • Lionel Messi, who missed earlier penalty, equalised before late Enzo Fernandes winner

  • Egypt, who had a goal disallowed when they were winning 1-0, accuse Fifa of 'fix' and for favouring Messi after exiting tournament

  • Argentina set to face Switzerland in quarter-finals after Swiss beat Colombia on penalties following 0-0 draw over 120 minutes

  • Watch highlights of all games here or relive the action with our 3D Experience

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Live Reporting

Written by Flora Snelson & Jude Winter. Edited by Sean Kearns.

  1. Get Involved

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    Maybe a personal approach from Tutankhamun to Gianni could get the situation reviewed...

    Steve, Bradford on Avon

  2. Argentina 'played until the last second'

    Argentina 3-2 Egypt

    Sebastian Ongarelli
    Argentine journalist speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast

    Hamdy Fathy of Egypt, Enzo Fernandez of Argentina during the World Cup match between Argentina v Egypt at the Atlanta Stadium on July 7, 2026 in Atlanta United StatesGetty Images

    It was a very difficult game for both sides. Egypt did a great job for 80 minutes. Getting to this stage at the World Cup for the first time, it is heartbreaking for them.

    Lionel Scaloni, the manager of Argentina, said in the press conference a couple of days ago, he did mention that Argentina didn’t play well against Cape Verde, but he also mentioned they would never give up and they will play until the lasts second - and that is exactly what happened yesterday. Argentina didn’t play well but they still played until the last second.

    I have no words for what Messi is currently doing. Especially after missing the penalty. He missed 4 penalties out of the 8 in this World Cup. But honestly, he keeps doing it, and that’s why he’s the best in the history.

  3. Get Involved - 'The inconsistencies stack up'

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    Whilst there is some understanding in the “sour grapes” argument being applied to this incident in isolation, the inconsistencies surrounding decisions involving Argentina stack up. Messi fouls and certain red card v Algeria not looked at, incorrect goal disallowed in that game and and offside. That was just one game.

    Andy, Sheffield

  4. Argentina's win celebrated across the globe

    Argentina 3-2 Egypt

    Photos from around the globe reveal the extent of Argentina's popularity.

    Here are fans celebrating the South American side's win in Dhaka, Bangladesh...

    Young Bangladeshi people are celebrating Argentina's victory against Egypt in the football match at the University of Dhaka campus. Final score Argentina 3 Egypt 2Getty Images

    In Madrid in Spain...

    Argentines living in Madrid celebrating Argentina's 32 victory over Egypt during a football match of the FIFA World Cup 26, securing Argentina's place in the quarter-finals of the tournamentGetty Images

    In Ternate, Indonesia...

    Argentina supporters react as they watch a live broadcast of the 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt, won 3-2 by Argentina, during a public viewing in Ternate, North Maluku, Indonesia, on July 8, 2026.Getty Images

    And of course, Buenos Aires...

    rgentina fans celebrate their team's goals during the Albiceleste's 3-2 victory over Egypt in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match at the Fan Fest in Buenos Aires' Palermo neighborhood on July 7, 2026.Getty Images

  5. Get Involved - 'Ifs and buts'

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    If Egypt's second "goal" had stood, they probably wouldn't have scored the next one, because everything would have played out differently. All ifs and buts really - but I do think Messi is getting favourable treatment regardless.

    Simon, London

  6. Was the result fair?

    Argentina 3-2 Egypt

    We want to know what you think as Argentina progress to the quarter finals at the expense of Egypt.

    Have your say by voting in our poll below.

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  7. 'We've been robbed'

    Argentina 3-2 Egypt

    Shaimaa Khalil
    BBC's North America correspondent in LA

    Mohamed Salah #10 of Egypt applauds fans after the team's victory through the penalty shootout during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between Australia and Egypt at Dallas Stadium on July 03, 2026 in Arlington, TexasGetty Images

    I'd just got off the phone with my nine-year-old nephew.

    "Misha, it's a disaster. We've been robbed!" he said in angry tears.

    My guess is there are similar conversations happening in homes and family WhatsApp groups wherever Egyptians like my family are watching tonight. Heartbreak doesn't even begin to cover it.

    This match took fans on an emotional rollercoaster - from hope, to belief, to outright elation... before anger and finally anguish.

    "As an American of Egyptian descent, I felt every minute of this," Sami Elmansoury, 41, told me.

    "Watching Egypt rise from their first ever World Cup win to going toe-to-toe with Argentina is something I'll never forget. Nothing can dim what these players showed the world today. Their performance throughout this tournament will live on."

    And I think that's what many Egyptians are feeling tonight. Pride... alongside heartbreak. They didn't play like underdogs, they played like equals.

    This team has done something no Egyptian side has managed before. They have lifted the spirits of a nation and a region. Their motto throughout this tournament has been 'Mekameleen', which means 'we'll keep going'.

    And they did. Tonight, the streets of Cairo, Alexandria and cities across Egypt will be quieter than fans had hoped.

    This World Cup may have ended in heartbreak, but it has also left Egyptians believing that this team belongs among football's biggest nations.

  8. Get Involved - 'The failure is on Egypt'

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    All a bit pathetic from Egypt. VAR didn’t put the ball in their net 3 times, the failure is on them. Understandable that emotions are high, but the decisions were correct.

    Jim, Edinburgh

  9. 'Everyone is out to get Argentina now'

    Argentina 3-2 Egypt

    Nathan Joyes
    South American football expert speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast

    Lautaro Martinez of Argentina celebrates at full time during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt at Atlanta Stadium on July 07, 2026 in Atlanta, GeorgiaGetty Images

    There was so much controversy around this Egypt game - which has taken the gloss off the result.

    World Cup fans have been treated to some excellent football matches recently.

    Although there were those two controversial chances, I think just because there were a serious of errors throughout the game, the emotions got higher and higher.

    I completely get it from Egyptian point of view and think everyone is out to get Argentina now because of what has happened.

    How many other nations would come back from that 2-0 result?

    I think you can properly count on one thumb, so fair play to Argentina, it was an incredible comeback.

    Egypt's defending for the first two was a bit sceptical. Maybe they found themselves in a situation they weren’t used to, and they panicked a little bit.

  10. Get Involved - 'Nothing now can be trusted'

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    All this talking of a fix was started by Trump poking his nose in.

    Gerald, Spalding

    As much as I hate to say it, the Balogun situation has left a huge stain on this World Cup and nothing now can be trusted. I believe there is favouritism going on with Messi and co, similar to what happened in Qatar.

    Idnan, Bury

  11. 'There's not enough for a spot-kick'

    Argentina 3-2 Egypt

    Dale Johnson
    Football issues correspondent

    Mohamed Salah of Egypt looks dejected during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt at Atlanta Stadium on July 07, 2026 in Atlanta, GeorgiaGetty Images

    What is more unfortunate for the officiating team is the potential foul on Salah in the build-up to Fernandez's dramatic winner. In the Argentina penalty area, Salah went down claiming he had been tripped by Julian Alvarez. Surely this should be reviewed by VAR too?

    It was similar to Attia's challenge - except for one crucial difference. Salah was in the penalty box, so the VAR is assessing a potential penalty - which has a higher threshold to a foul.

    Had Salah been outside the area, for consistency the VAR would have to get involved. As there's not enough for a spot-kick, Argentina's winner stands.

  12. RECAP - Egypt call for a foul in Fernandez winner build-up

    Argentina 3-2 Egypt

    Enzo Fernandez #24 of Argentina celebrates with teammates after scoring the team's third goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt at Atlanta Stadium on July 07, 2026 in Atlanta, GeorgiaGetty Images

    With the tie level at 2-2 in stoppage time, Julian Alvarez won possession back from Mohamed Salah near Argentina's goal before sending Lautaro Martinez racing clear on the right wing.

    Atlanta Stadium was sent into raptures as Fernandez met Alvarez's deep cross and nodded in a winner - but Egypt felt that Alvarez's challenge on Salah had not been legal, and that the goal should not stand.

    Here is a timeline of Fernandez's winning goal:

    91:39 - Alvarez appears to make contact with Salah's foot as the Egypt forward advances into the Argentinian box.

    91:54 - Fernandez heads in a winner for Argentina from a cross by Lautaro Martinez. Referee Francois Letexier waves away protests by Egypt.

    101:04 - Letexier blows the final whistle and Egypt are knocked out of the World Cup.

  13. Zico's disallowed goal was not the only point of contention during Argentina's win.

    Egypt were not happy that play was fair in the build up to Enzo Fernandez's injury-time winner, either.

  14. Get Involved - 'Totally understand Egyptian anger'

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    Egypt can feel legitimately hard done by, particularly in the ruling out of a wonderful counterattacking second goal. Totally understand Egyptian anger at an injustice.

    Jonathan, Hastings

  15. 'Inconsistent with how the tournament has been refereed'

    Argentina 3-2 Egypt

    Dale Johnson
    Football issues correspondent

    Lisandro Martinez #6 of Argentina competes for the ball against Marawan Attia #19 of Egypt during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt at Atlanta Stadium on July 07, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.Getty Images

    Only last week Pierluigi Collina, Fifa's head of referees, underlined a key criteria given to his officials.

    Referees have been told to allow normal football contact to increase the tempo of matches.

    This World Cup has seen 22.6 fouls per game, compared with 25 in 2022 and 27 in 2018.

    How does that feed into Egypt's disallowed goal? Attia had a very light tug on the shirt of Martinez and slightly stepped on his toe. But the VAR stepped in to say Zico's superb goal should be ruled out for a foul. Of course there is an argument that this can be a foul, but it would be inconsistent with how the tournament has been refereed.

    If you are letting these challenges go on the field, then you have to do the same with VAR.

    Remember Aleksandar Pavlovic's raised boot to the head of Ecuador's Pedro Vite's face? No VAR intervention for Leroy Sane's goal.

    Did the foul happen too far back in the move? The VAR will look at how the attacking phase begins, specifically how possession was won. As the challenge directly led to the goal it would be reviewable, even though it was 17 seconds back.

  16. RECAP - Egypt's disallowed goal

    Argentina 3-2 Egypt

    Referee Francois Letexier during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt at Atlanta Stadium on July 07, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.Getty Images

    After his side went 1-0 up and watched Lionel Messi miss a chance to level the game for Argentina from the spot, Egypt's Haissem Hassan sprinted up the pitch to set up Mostafa Zico to put their side 2-0 ahead.

    Here is the timeline for Zico's disallowed goal:

    57:34 - Egypt win possession back from Lisandro Martinez near their own goal

    57:50 - Zico puts the ball in the net to make it 2-0 to Egypt and takes his shirt off in celebration

    58:40 - Referee Francois Letexier goes to his monitor to check the Martinez challenge

    59:47 - Letexier announces that the goal is cancelled and a free kick is given following Marawan Attia's 'careless' challenge on Martinez

  17. Get Involved - 'Sour grapes'

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    Egyptian sour grapes, they had every chance to close out the game but just like Senegal against the Belgians they made mistakes, costly mistakes. So don't go blaming Argentina or the officials for your own errors.

    Milton, Maidstone

  18. 'The referee made the wrong decision'

    Argentina 3-2 Egypt

    Ahmad Yousef
    Egyptian football expert on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Mohamed Salah and team-mates of Egypt complain to Referee Francois Letexier during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt at Atlanta Stadium on July 7, 2026 in Atlanta, United StatesGetty Images

    Huge amounts of disappointment across Egypt. There is so much inconsistency at the moment with VAR and decisions and how far you go back to pull a decision.

    The referee made the wrong decision disallowing Egypt's second goal.

    There was such a long distance that had gone by and the foul was so minimal so I completely understand why the Egyptian coaching staff and squad are so disappointed.

    If that was Lionel Messi or someone else in an Argentina shirt, the question is would there have been the same consistency, that is what has really aggrieved people.

  19. VAR salvation

    Argentina 3-2 Egypt

    Argentina and Portugal are the only teams to have two goals by the opponent overturned by VAR in this World Cup.

    The other for Argentina came in the first group stage game vs Algeria when Fares Chaibi's effort was ruled offside.

    Screen showing Var decision: no goalGetty Images

  20. Get Involved - 'Egypt only have themselves to blame'

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    As gutted as I am for Egypt and agree with the Messi-bias, it wasn’t Fifa who lost their composure in the last 12 mins and conceded 3 goals. Egypt only have themselves to blame for losing from that position.

    Bilal, London