Egypt secured a surprising 1-0 halftime lead against Argentina in Atlanta on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, following an early goal and a penalty save.
Yasser Ibrahim scored the lone goal of the opening half, while Egyptian goalkeeper Shobeir stopped a penalty from Lionel Messi.
Ibrahim's Header Breaks Deadlock
According to reports from Sporza, Ibrahim put the Pharaohs ahead in the 15th minute by heading in a long cross from Attia.
Ibrahim anticipated the ball perfectly behind Argentine defender Lisandro Martinez, directing it past goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Argentina responded with heavy pressure but failed to convert multiple opportunities against a resilient Egyptian defense.
Defender Tagliafico drew a penalty after colliding with Hassan in the box, but Shobeir correctly anticipated Messi's spot-kick to deny the equalizer.
Messi later executed a curling free kick from 30 meters out that beat the wall but struck the post.
Shobeir also recorded significant saves against close-range efforts from Julian Alvarez and a header from Alexis Mac Allister.
Argentina started nine of their eleven finalists from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar for the fixture.
The match in Atlanta drew significant attention, with the cheapest tickets selling for approximately 1,451 euros.
