Argentina vs Egypt ended up with a 3-2 win over the Pharaohs. The FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 has been overshadowed by controversial refereeing decisions that left Egyptian players and fans questioning the role of VAR. Two major incidents in particular have dominated post-match discussions and triggered an official complaint from the Egypt Football Association.
Argentina vs Egypt raises VAR controversy
Egypt thought they had doubled their lead in the first half when Mostafa Zico found the net. However, after a lengthy VAR review, the goal was ruled out. Officials determined that Marawan Attia had committed a foul on Lisandro Martinez earlier in the attacking move.
🚨 𝗡𝗘𝗪: Thierry Henry on the VAR controversy in Argentina vs Egypt:
— WhatsThePoint (@thehouseoffootb) July 7, 2026
🗣️ "Let's explain this calmly, because everyone is shouting, but not everyone is looking at the same incident."
"I've watched the replay several times, and I understand why Egypt feel frustrated. I also… pic.twitter.com/mSnRSotls5
According to FIFA’s Laws of the Game, VAR is allowed to review offences during the attacking possession phase if they directly lead to a goal. While the decision was technically within the rules, many felt the foul occurred too early in the build-up to justify overturning the goal, making it one of the match’s biggest talking points.
Penalty appeal adds to Egypt’s frustration
The second controversial moment came late in the match with the score tied at 2-2. Egypt appealed for a penalty after Hamdy Fathy went down inside the box following a challenge from an Argentine defender. The referee waved play on, and VAR did not recommend an on-field review.
Within moments, Argentina launched a counterattack, and Enzo Fernandez scored the decisive goal to send the defending champions into the quarterfinals.
Controversy over a foul before a goal in an Egypt game, you say? 🤐 pic.twitter.com/kfWCmbLvLR
— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) July 7, 2026
Following the defeat, the Egypt Football Association submitted an official complaint to FIFA, calling for a review of the refereeing decisions. Head coach Hossam Hassan also criticised the officiating, saying key calls consistently went against his side.
While the decisions remain open to interpretation, experts agree that the debate is less about whether VAR was allowed to intervene and more about the consistency of its application. Argentina advanced to the quarterfinals, but the controversial calls ensured the match will be remembered for far more than just the result.
