Egypt lost 3-2 to Argentina on July 7, 2026, in the World Cup round of 16 after leading 2-0 with 11 minutes left, ending their tournament run [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]. Egypt’s coach Hossam Hassan fiercely criticized the refereeing and VAR decisions, saying, "We have been cheated unfairly today, we have suffered injustice" [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7].
A crucial goal by Mostafa Zico was disallowed after VAR ruled a foul on Argentine defender Lisandro Martinez during the buildup. While some sources say the decision was correct, others noted controversy over whether the foul occurred off the pitch [3, 4, 5, 6]. Egypt also claimed a late penalty after Hamdy Fathy was tugged by Alexis Mac Allister, but the foul was not reviewed by VAR and no penalty was given. Opinions differ on whether contact merited a penalty [3, 4, 5, 6].
Hassan responded to the loss by announcing he would not watch any more World Cup matches in protest, stating, "I'm going home and won’t be watching any more games from the tournament" [2, 3, 4, 7]. The Egyptian Football Association publicly criticized the officiating and the use of VAR following the defeat [5, 8].
Earlier in the tournament, Egypt advanced to the round of 16 by defeating New Zealand 3-1 in Group G and eliminating Australia in the round of 32. After beating Australia on July 3, Hassan waved the Palestinian flag in a political gesture amid ongoing Gaza conflict [1, 9, 8, 10, 11, 12]. On July 6, Hassan made an emotional plea at a FIFA press conference urging athletes and journalists worldwide to raise awareness about Palestinian suffering. He said, "Before being Arab, Muslim, Christian or anything else, I am a human being. Through football — the world's soft power — I want to send a message: please let the Palestinian people live" and added, "If a person anywhere in the world does not feel for the Palestinian people, then they have lost part of their humanity" [9, 11, 12].
Hassan, 59, has had a fiery coaching career marked by several controversies and frequent job changes since he was appointed Egypt coach in February 2024 [1, 8, 10]. Following the World Cup campaign, the Egyptian FA extended his contract until 2030 [8]. The team and coach now turn their focus to upcoming national fixtures with Hassan at the helm beyond 2026.
