Argentina vs Egypt 3-2: FIFA World Cup 2026 last 16 – as it happened

Thanks for joining our live coverage of Argentina’s stunning 3-2 win over Egypt in the World Cup last 16, arguably one of the best World Cup knockout games of all time.

We have full coverage of all the buildup to the Colombia-Switzerland match on our other live page here.

But for now, from me, Alex Hoad, and my colleague Patrick Keddie, goodbye!

We don’t have long to wait for the lineup for the quarterfinals to be completed at World Cup 2026.

Coverage of the buildup to the final last-16 match between Colombia and Switzerland is under way, with kick-off just over an hour away.

You can find it here.

Only one spot remains.🏆#FIFAWorldCup #Qualified @mcdonalds pic.twitter.com/p9oyHLMRYS

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 7, 2026

• Messi – 8 goals
• Mbappe – 7 goals
• Haaland – 7 goals
• Kane – 6 goals

Outside of shootouts, Egypt’s Mostafa Shobeir is one of only three goalkeepers this century to save two penalties in a World Cup tournament, along with Wojciech Szczesny in 2022 and Brad Friedel in 2002.

Argentina’s starting XI against Egypt had an average age of 30 years and 173 days – only once previously have they named an older starting XI for a World Cup match (30 years 189 days vs Nigeria in 2018).

If you want to relive the action from Atlanta – and why would you not? – you can read our match report here.

“I can’t look up, I’m sorry. I’m really emotional right now,” said Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni.

“What a group of players, man. That’s it, I’ve got to go.”

Argentina were 2-0 down and heading out. They have lost all 13 of their previous World Cup games when trailing by at least two goals.

Then Lionel Messi took charge. He now has the most assists in World Cup history (9) and extended his record goal total (21) to make it 2-2. pic.twitter.com/Y2pOois9jL

— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) July 7, 2026

Argentina have won after conceding the opening goal in the World Cup for the first time since 24th June 2006 against Mexico; they haven’t won any of the next four in which they conceded first.

They have never previously come from two goals down to win in the World Cup.

This would have been a heartbreaking defeat even without the sense of injustice Egypt clearly feel, as they wanted a penalty at the other end seconds before Argentina completed the turnaround on the break.

They led through a wonderful header from Ibrahim and despite coming under pressure battled gamely and looked dangerous on the break, with Zico seeing one of the all-time World Cup goals ruled out by VAR before he did make it 2-0 after a counter that was almost as devastating.

Egypt were always going to come under pressure, but the frustration will be that Shobeir, who played brilliantly, got a good hand to both the first goal and the equaliser before the controversial stoppage-time winner.

That looks likely to be it for Mohamed Salah on the biggest stage.

Lionel Messi is as emotional as we can remember seeing him.

He crossed for the first goal of the comeback and then scored the equaliser.

He’s seen and done it all in the game, but it’s doubtful he’s ever been involved in a game like that, with these stakes…

That is why Argentina are World Champions.

That is why, for many, Lionel Messi is the greatest of all time.

An extraordinary game settled by the 3,000th goal in the history of the World Cup.

From 2-0 down after 79 minutes, to the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup.

Breathless, extraordinary.

Football is the greatest game, and this is its greatest stage.

Egypt continue to protest on the sidelines, and it’s a controversial end to one of the great games of this World Cup, or possibly any other.

Egypt were 2-0 up with 11 minutes to go, and are on their way to defeat in normal time.

90+9 mins: Argentina 3-2 Egypt

Marwan Attia (Egypt) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Egypt are furious and adamant they deserved a penalty in the build-up to that goal for a trip in the opposite box.

It’s all very heated on the touchine while both managers turn to their benches to try and see the game out in style.

90+5 mins: Argentina 3-2 Egypt

Zizo replaces Mohanad Lasheen.

Substitution, Argentina. Facundo Medina replaces Julián Alvarez.

Substitution, Argentina. Nicolás Otamendi replaces Cristian Romero.

Hamdi Fathy (Egypt) is shown the yellow card.

Egypt’s goalkeeper is shown a yellow card for reasons unclear.

Enzo Fernandez gets on the end of a cross from Lautaro Martinez and heads brilliantly across goal into the bottom corner to complete a stunning turnaround.

Three goals in eight minutes. From 2-0 down to 3-2 up.

90+2 mins: Argentina 3-2 Egypt