Argentina beat Egypt 3-2 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16, ending Egypt’s run and quarter-final hopes. Several outlets report that the match features a major VAR decision that affects Egypt’s scoring. Egypt’s goal is ruled out after VAR review, and subsequent officiating calls in the second half prompt heightened criticism.
In reaction to the defeat, Egypt’s manager and Egyptian Football Association publicly question VAR and the referee’s decisions, with some statements describing the officiating as unfair or implying bias. Coverage highlights that FIFA’s Chief Refereeing Officer rejects the allegations, saying they are baseless and do not belong in football. Additional reporting also notes that debates continue around how VAR is applied, including claims from observers about the nature of fouls and whether penalties or other decisions should have been given.
Argentina are described as mounting a late comeback, including a rapid run of goals, which intensifies scrutiny of the earlier VAR ruling and other late-match refereeing decisions. Overall, sources agree the VAR controversy centers on Egypt’s disallowed goal and the broader dispute over officiating in the second half.
