Argentina’s national team secured one of the most thrilling victories of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday, defeating Egypt 3-2 in a dramatic contest. The match appeared to be slipping away from Lionel Messi and his teammates for much of the day, with Messi even missing a penalty after his spot kick was saved.
However, Argentina produced a remarkable late comeback, scoring three goals after the 79th minute. Messi played a key role by scoring the equalizer, helping Argentina complete the turnaround and avoid the need for extra time.
The comeback, however, was surrounded by controversy. When Egypt initially took a 2-0 lead, the goal was overturned following a questionable VAR review, a decision that even caused confusion among the match commentators.
“VAR is the bane of my life,” Fox play-by-play announcer Darren Fletcher said of the review.
A similar incident later in the match, which could have resulted in a penalty kick for Egypt and potentially changed the outcome, was not reviewed. Several other refereeing decisions, along with moments where calls were not made, sparked debate and led some fans to question whether FIFA had favored Messi’s Argentina.
Egypt coach Hossam Hassan made his frustration clear after the match, criticizing the officiating and the use of VAR.
“We haven’t seen respect or fair play,” he told reporters. “A penalty was ruled out and a second (incident) that should have been checked for a penalty for us was not even checked by the VAR. A second goal was remarkably, for whatever reason, disallowed.
“There seems to have been pressure on the Argentinian side on the referee that has brought about this outcome.
“Life is unfair. The world is unfair. OK, but why isn’t there any fairness in sports? I’m not convinced by this outcome and by the way things unfolded in this match.”
The controversy has now drawn comments from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who addressed the match while discussing his plans for expanded bus lanes across the city.
“It means agreeing with your friends that Egypt were robbed yesterday,” Mamdani said, referring to how New Yorkers would use the extra time saved through improved transportation.
The remark drew cheers from the crowd, suggesting that many spectators outside Argentina’s fan base shared the view that Egypt had been unfairly treated during the match.
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Source: Yahoo Sports
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