Talk about a night that turned sour fast. Egypt has lodged a FIFA complaint after their loss to Argentina at the FIFA World Cup 2026, and they are being very direct about it.
The Pharaohs want the match officials booted out of the tournament, claiming the referees cost them a place in the last eight.
- Egypt’s FA has asked FIFA to investigate French referee François Letexier and his whole crew.
- Egypt led 2-0 in Atlanta on 7 July, then Argentina scored three late goals to win 3-2.
- A VAR call chalked off a Mostafa Zico goal, and a Salah penalty shout was ignored.
- Coach Hossam Hassan cried “injustice”, and striker Zico said the tournament was “fixed”.
- FIFA’s referee boss backed his officials. Letexier has since left the World Cup, though not as a punishment.
Egypt Lodges FIFA Complaint After Loss To Argentina At FIFA World Cup 2026
Egypt were minutes away from the biggest night in their football history. They had never reached a World Cup quarter-final, and at 2-0 up with 11 minutes left, that looked about to change.
Then it fell apart. Argentina, who had squeezed past Cape Verde in the round before, threw three goals at them and nicked it 3-2.
So a few days later, EFA president Hany Abo Rida fired off a formal complaint to FIFA. BBC Sport reported that Egypt basically wants the officials kicked out for good.
The federation asked for an inquiry into Letexier and his video team, citing “blatant errors” and a refusal to review footage they felt favoured them. They even alleged a “crime of discrimination against the Egyptian national team”.
The official line matched that heat. “The Egyptian Football Association cannot remain silent regarding the refereeing decisions witnessed during the match against Argentina as well as the failure to make appropriate use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system,” it read.
And they were not done: “Every player who wears the Egyptian shirt, and every supporter who stands behind the team, deserves fairness, respect, and equal application of the laws of the game,” the federation added.
The Two Calls That Lit The Fuse
Egypt’s anger stems from two moments. The first was midway through the second half. Zico thought he had made it 2-0. But VAR went back and spotted Marwan Attia treading on Lisandro Martínez’s foot, raising concerns of a player injury, at the very start of the move. Goal gone. As Firstpost laid out, the incident was nowhere near the actual finish.
The second one was the killer. Egypt swore Mohamed Salah was fouled in the box. Nothing given. Seconds later, Argentina were up the other end, and Enzo Fernández buried the winner. Egypt begged for a VAR check, like the Zico one. Letexier waved it away. He also booked five Egyptian players, showed none to Argentina, and sent off goalkeeping coach Saafan Elsaghir.
Argentina vs. Egypt: Key Match Timeline & Decision Breakdown
| Minute | Team | Event / Incident | Key Players Involved | Official Call / Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15′ | Egypt | Opening Goal | Yasser Ibrahim | Goal awarded (Egypt 1–0) |
| 58′ | Egypt | Disallowed Goal (VAR) | Mostafa Ziko, Marwan Attia, Lisandro Martínez | Goal ruled out for build-up foul |
| 67′ | Egypt | Second Goal | Mostafa Ziko | Goal awarded (Egypt 2–0) |
| 79′ | Argentina | Comeback Goal | Cristian Romero | Goal awarded (Argentina 1–2) |
| 83′ | Argentina | Equalising Goal | Lionel Messi | Goal awarded (Argentina 2–2) |
| 90+2′ | Egypt / Argentina | Penalty Claim & Winning Goal | Mohamed Salah, Enzo Fernández | Penalty waved off; Fernández scores winner (Argentina 3–2) |
Source: FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Match Center & Match Report Records
We Suffered Injustice
The reaction afterwards was raw, and ITVX captured just how furious the camp was. Hassan reckoned his side had been treated unfairly and took a pointed dig at who benefited. “Perhaps they wanted to keep the world champion in the competition. Perhaps they wanted Messi to stay in the running,” he said.
He went further with reporters. “We looked better than the reigning champions – better in everything – but the result was influenced by internal factors on the pitch and external factors affecting it,” he said.
Emotions boiled over on the touchline too. Firstpost noted Hassan aimed an anti-racism gesture at Lionel Messi after a verbal exchange.
Zico was not holding back either. “There’s been an unfairness right from the start of the match. A 2-0 lead isn’t enough to beat Argentina. It is clear this tournament has been fixed,” he said. Yahoo Sport highlighted how those ‘fixed’ claims caught fire online fast, boosted by social media algorithms.
What FIFA Actually Said
FIFA did not back down. Referee boss Pierluigi Collina came out swinging in defence of his men, as ESPN revealed. His take was blunt: the replays showed Attia is clearly stepping on Martínez, and a foul is a foul, obvious or not.
There is a twist, though. Letexier has indeed left the World Cup, along with fellow French official Clément Turpin. But L’Équipe reported the move was routine.
France reached the semi-finals, so their referees got rotated out to dodge any conflict of interest. It was not a ban, and it had nothing to do with Egypt’s protest.
Why This One Really Hurts
Egypt fancied their shot at history, and Messi, possibly at his last World Cup, snatched it away. He was in tears at full time, but only after doing the damage. Cristian Romero pulled one back on 79 minutes, Messi levelled four minutes later past keeper Mostafa Shoubir, and Fernández headed the winner deep into stoppage time.
That goal was Messi’s 21st at World Cups, an all-time record, and his eighth of this tournament, putting him top of the Golden Boot race. He has now scored in nine straight World Cup games, another record, while Argentina’s unbeaten run at the finals hit 11.
It was their first knockout comeback since beating Mexico in 2006, and they went on to reach the last four. Egypt got one small lift off the pitch: the EFA confirmed a new deal for Hassan, in charge since February 2024.
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FAQs
Q1. Did Egypt File A Complaint Against FIFA?
Ans: Yes, the Egyptian FA lodged a formal complaint after the 3-2 loss, asking FIFA to investigate referee François Letexier and pull his whole crew.
Q2. Why Did Egypt Complain About The Referee?
Ans: They felt the big calls went against them. A Zico goal was ruled out by VAR, and a Salah penalty shout was waved away before Argentina’s winner.
Q3. What Was The Final Score Of Egypt V Argentina?
Ans: Argentina won 3-2 in the round of 16. Egypt led 2-0 before the champions rattled in three late goals to complete the comeback.
Q4. Who Refereed Egypt Vs Argentina?
Ans: French official François Letexier took charge in Atlanta on 7 July 2026. His VAR and penalty calls drew heavy fire from Egypt.
Q5. Did FIFA Remove The Referee Because Of The Complaint?
Ans: No, Letexier left the tournament only because France reached the semis and FIFA rotates those referees out. It was not a punishment.
Q6. Has Egypt Ever Reached A World Cup Quarter-Final?
Ans: No, never. The 2026 defeat by Argentina again stopped them at the last-16 stage.
Sources & References
- BBC Sport. (2026). Egypt wants officials removed after Argentina match controversy. BBC Football Articles.
- Firstpost. (2026). Egypt lodges formal protest with FIFA over Letexier VAR decision in Argentina World Cup match. Firstpost Sports.
- ITVX News. (2026, July 8). Egyptian FA lodges complaint with FIFA after blatant errors in Argentina game. ITVX News.
- Yahoo Sports. (2026). The 10 best matches of an unforgettable World Cup ranked. Yahoo Sports Football Coverage.
- Al Jazeera. (2026, July 7). Why was the second half of the Argentina vs Egypt World Cup game controversial? Al Jazeera Sports.
Disclaimer: This article is intended solely for informational and educational purposes. It is not intended to promote, endorse, or influence any individual, organisation, event, or viewpoint. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, readers should independently verify information from official sources before relying on it.
