Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan has alleged that his side’s dramatic Round of 16 defeat to Argentina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup was influenced by biased officiating, claiming the match was “rigged” in favour of the South American champions.
Egypt looked set for a famous victory after racing into a two-goal lead, but Argentina mounted a remarkable comeback to win 3-2 and secure a place in the quarter-finals.
Speaking after the match, Hassan expressed frustration with several refereeing decisions, insisting they played a significant role in the outcome.
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“I will say what’s on my mind regardless of the consequences,” Hassan said.
“This was clearly a rigged match, and the whole world saw it. If they wanted Argentina to win so badly, then why invite everyone else to participate?”
The outspoken remarks are likely to spark debate across the football world, as allegations of match manipulation at a FIFA World Cup are highly controversial and would require credible evidence to substantiate.
Despite the complaints, Argentina’s comeback victory stands, sending Lionel Scaloni’s men into the quarter-finals, while Egypt’s impressive World Cup campaign comes to an end after narrowly missing out on a historic upset.
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