Egypt booked their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals after taking a commanding 2-0 lead against defending champions Argentina on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
The round of 16 clash featured a historic first World Cup meeting between Lionel Messi, 39, and Mohamed Salah, 34, drawing massive social media attention, particularly from Brazilian fans cheering against their South American rivals.
>>> Marshawn Kneeland Diagnosed With CTE After November Suicide
A pivotal moment came when Messi missed a penalty, his fourth career failure from the spot in World Cup history, dropping his regular-time penalty success rate to 50 percent.
Egypt entered the knockout stage undefeated after finishing second in Group G and eliminating Australia on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra time.
>>> Egypt's Mostafa Shobeir Saves Lionel Messi Penalty in World Cup Match
Argentina, who topped Group J with a perfect record, had a tough path to the round of 16, narrowly beating Cape Verde 3-2 in extra time.
The winner of this match will face either Switzerland or Colombia in the quarterfinals, with both undefeated group leaders set to play later in Vancouver.
>>> Christopher Nolan Compares Samantha Morton's On-Set Ovation to Heath Ledger
Zico scored a standout goal to help Egypt secure the victory.
