Argentina beat Egypt 3-2 in FIFA WC 2026 thriller, reach quarterfinals
Synopsis
Argentina were two goals down, their title defence on the brink — and then Messi happened. A 79th-minute assist, an 83rd-minute finish off the bar, and Enzo Fernández's stoppage-time stunner turned a near-catastrophe into a 3-2 classic. The defending champions are through to the quarterfinals, and Messi's last World Cup is very much alive.
Key Takeaways
Argentina defeated Egypt 3-2 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 round of 16 in Atlanta on 7 July .
Lionel Messi assisted Cristian Romero's goal in the 79th minute and scored himself in the 83rd minute to level at 2-2 .
Enzo Fernández struck the winner in the 90+3rd minute with a back-post finish into the far corner.
Yasser Ibrahim (15') and Mostafa Zico (62') had given Egypt a 2-0 lead before Argentina's fightback.
Argentina conceded a first-half World Cup goal for the first time since the 2018 round of 16 against France.
Argentina advance to the quarterfinals , while Egypt exit the tournament.
Defending champions Argentina produced a stunning comeback from 2-0 down to defeat Egypt 3-2 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 round of 16 at Atlanta on Tuesday, 7 July, booking their place in the quarterfinals. Lionel Messi provided an assist and scored, while Enzo Fernández delivered the decisive blow in the third minute of stoppage time to complete one of the tournament's most dramatic reversals.
How Egypt Built a Stunning Lead
Yasser Ibrahim headed Egypt into a shock lead in the 15th minute, and goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir kept Argentina at bay with a string of brilliant saves — most notably diving to deny a Messi penalty earned by Nicolás Tagliafico, and making sharp stops from Alexis Mac Allister and Julián Álvarez.
Mostafa Zico then doubled Egypt's advantage in the 62nd minute, finishing off a rapid counter-attack involving Mohamed Salah and Haissem Hassan — though an earlier attempt by Zico had been ruled out for a foul in the build-up. At that point, the defending champions were staring at an early exit, joining five-time winners Brazil and Germany on the sidelines.
Argentina's Extraordinary Fightback
Cristian Romero pulled one back in the 79th minute, with Messi launching the attack and providing the assist. Four minutes later, Lautaro Martínez hooked a deep ball into the area and Messi latched onto it, striking a shot that cannoned off the bar via the goalkeeper's hand and crossed the line to make it 2-2 in the 83rd minute.
With the match seemingly heading for extra time, Enzo Fernández conjured an extraordinary finish in the 90+3rd minute — meeting a deep cross from Lautaro at the back post and redirecting it into the far corner to seal a 3-2 victory.
A Historic Defensive Milestone Broken
Notably, Argentina conceded a goal in the first half of a World Cup match for the first time since their 2018 round of 16 tie against France. They had kept clean sheets in the first half of their previous 11 consecutive World Cup matches before Tuesday's contest, underlining just how much Egypt disrupted the champions' rhythm.
What This Means for Argentina
The win keeps Argentina's title defence alive as they advance to the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinals. The manner of the victory — clawing back from two goals down without losing composure — reflects the resilience that has defined this squad under Lionel Scaloni. Messi, now deep into what is likely his final World Cup campaign, remains central to every moment of Argentine magic. Their quarterfinal opponents and date are yet to be confirmed.
Point of View
With all their firepower, needed a stoppage-time goal to survive against a side many tipped to exit early raises legitimate questions about their defensive solidity. That said, the mental fortitude to come back from 2-0 down in a knockout match is not nothing — and Messi's continued capacity to decide moments at this level remains the tournament's defining subplot.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score between Argentina and Egypt in FIFA World Cup 2026?
Argentina defeated Egypt 3-2 in the round of 16 at Atlanta on 7 July 2026, coming back from 2-0 down. Enzo Fernández scored the winning goal in the third minute of stoppage time.
Who scored for Argentina against Egypt?
Cristian Romero (79th minute), Lionel Messi (83rd minute), and Enzo Fernández (90+3rd minute) scored for Argentina. Messi also provided the assist for Romero's goal.
Who scored for Egypt against Argentina?
Yasser Ibrahim headed Egypt into the lead in the 15th minute, and Mostafa Zico doubled the advantage in the 62nd minute with a counter-attack finish involving Mohamed Salah and Haissem Hassan.
How did Argentina reach the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinals?
Argentina qualified for the quarterfinals by defeating Egypt 3-2 in the round of 16 in Atlanta on 7 July 2026. They trailed 0-2 before scoring three goals in the final 15 minutes, including stoppage time.
When did Argentina last concede in the first half of a World Cup match before this game?
Argentina had not conceded a first-half goal in a World Cup match for over seven years — their last such instance was the 2018 round of 16 tie against France. They had kept first-half clean sheets in 11 consecutive World Cup matches before the Egypt game.
