Egypt’s head coach Hossam Hassan and parts of his team publicly question whether officiating influenced the Round of 16 match against Argentina at the 2026 World Cup. After Egypt squander a two-goal lead and lost 3-2 to Argentina, Hassan said the match appeared “rigged” in Argentina’s favour, pointing to decisions made by the officials. A similar account appears across multiple outlets, describing Hassan as angry at specific calls and maintaining that the defeat was not purely down to play.
The claim is also met with criticism. In one report, former football executive Simon Jordan rejects the allegation, arguing that Hassan’s comments are misguided and that supporters should not interpret the result as evidence of a FIFA conspiracy. The outlets agree on the core timeline: Egypt enter the Round of 16 with a 2-0 lead, the game finishes 3-2 for Argentina, and Egypt’s coach later makes allegations about rigging and match officiating.
