They were less than a quarter of an hour away from one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history. Ultimately, Egypt could not stun the streetwise world champions Argentina – no one really gave them a chance anyway in the World Cup 2026.
Yet the Pharaohs deserve enormous credit as, until they were reeled in late on, Hossam Hassan’s men were about to deliver the greatest moment in Egyptian football history.
As for the Argentines, critics will rightly point out that the defending champions have made hard work of seeing off Egypt and the minnows of Cape Verde. Certainly, they have not played anyone of note yet, so the time to properly judge their class of 2026 will come in the next fortnight.
In terms of fighting spirit and character, though, Lionel Scaloni’s men cannot be questioned. It’s a quarter-final against Switzerland in Kansas next.
Argentina 3-2 Egypt
There was shock around the world that Egypt led this tie 2-0 going into the closing quarter, thanks to goals from Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Zico.
Ibrahim nodded a cross from Marwan Attia into the bottom corner to open the scoring after a quarter of an hour before Zico – who had a goal correctly disallowed by the video assistant referee shortly before the hour mark – rounded off a swift counter-attack from a Haissem Hassan ball to double the advantage midway through the second period.
At that point, the World Cup 2026 betting odds were under serious threat of being turned upside down.
Following their semi-final exit at the Africa Cup of Nations at the start of the year, he was challenged by journalists about what they called the team’s technical shortcomings. Hossam Hassan had pre-tournament critics.
He had already proved them wrong by guiding them to their first-ever victory in the tournament and a place in the knockout stages for the first time. This would have been a level above, though.
Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir – whose father, Ahmed, was the Pharaohs’ goalkeeper at the 1990 World Cup – had been among their star men, saving a penalty from Argentina talisman Lionel Messi five minutes after the opening goal before keeping out the captain again with a terrific stop.
When he failed to push away a Cristian Romero header 11 minutes from time, suddenly there was belief in the La Albiceleste ranks and, presumably, a modicum of doubt in their minds about their opponents.
Within five minutes, Messi produced a composed finish via the underside of the bar to equalise and then, with extra-time looming, came the decisive moment.
Egypt carelessly lost possession and, after Lautaro Martinez burst down the right, he lofted a pinpoint cross to Enzo Fernandez – a player who sealed a £106 million move to Chelsea for his performances at the last World Cup – who placed the header expertly out of Shobeir’s reach.
The rejoicing among the holders was as clear as the deflation amongst the Egyptians.
Argentina may have won all five of their games at this World Cup. But for this SBOTOP scribe, their first real test is yet to come. A sterner test may well come during Sunday’s quarter-final when they take on the Swiss.
Messi is the first player in World Cup history to score in six consecutive knockout-stage matches, while his eight goals are the most in the opening five games of the tournament since Gerd Müller netted eight for Germany in 1970.
The South American giants have made it to the round of 16 at every World Cup since 2002.
Egypt reached the last 16 despite only winning one of their four games.
Switzerland 0-0 Colombia (aet, 4-3 on pens)
In truth, World Cup 2026 highlights were fairly few and far between in the final match of the tournament to be played in Canada.
Switzerland and Colombia were both unbeaten after four matches each so something had to give.
The Swiss suffered a big pre-match blow when 20-year-old midfielder Johan Mazambi, three goals and two assists so far – as well as becoming the youngest player to score a World Cup double as a substitute – suffered an injury in training and was not passed fit to face Los Cafeteros.
Chances were at a premium with Gustavo Puerta denied by Swiss shot-stopper Gregor Kobel before his Colombia counterpart Camilo Vargas pushed away a Fabian Rieder drive.
Although both nations went in search of a win, there also seemed to be an element of both sides wanting to make sure they did not concede.
That was even clearer in extra- time, although eight minutes in the first period only the crossbar prevented a Jhon Lucumí header from breaking the deadlock following an excellent Juan Quintero corner.
Vargas then kept out a close-range shot from exciting Burnley winger Zeki Amdouni, introduced seconds earlier as he continues his return from serious injury.
Backed by excellent support once again, Colombia must have thought their moment had arrived with five minutes remaining when an attempted clearance found its way to substitute Jaminton Campaz, who, with just the keeper to beat, fired high and over Campaz’s crossbar.
Colombia have conceded just one goal in five matches at the tournament.
Until tonight, their only previous World Cup meeting was in 1994 when Colombia beat Switzerland 2-0, but the Swiss progressed to the next stage.
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