Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan sparked controversy after his team's dramatic 3-2 Round of 16 defeat to Argentina national football team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Hassan claimed FIFA wanted Lionel Messi to remain in the tournament and suggested match officials favored the defending champions. Egypt, who led 2-0 before Argentina's stunning comeback, were left furious over a disallowed goal, rejected penalty appeals, and key VAR decisions. Despite the accusations, no evidence has emerged to support claims of bias or match manipulation, and FIFA had not responded publicly at the time of reporting. (Reuters)

Egypt's World Cup campaign ended in dramatic fashion after surrendering a two-goal lead in a 3-2 defeat to Argentina in the Round of 16, with forward Mostafa Ziko accusing FIFA of favouring the defending champions. Ziko's frustration centred on a controversial VAR review that disallowed one of his goals before Argentina staged a late comeback through Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernandez. After the match, Ziko claimed the tournament was "fixed" and alleged the referee had denied Egypt a famous victory, while apologising to supporters for the heartbreaking exit. A viral video highlighting disputed refereeing decisions has further fuelled online debate, though its claims remain unverified and FIFA has not responded to the allegations.

Switzerland booked their first FIFA World Cup quarter-final berth since 1954 after defeating Colombia 4-3 in a penalty shootout following a goalless 120-minute Round of 16 clash in Vancouver. Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel emerged as the hero, saving Cucho Hernández's penalty after Davinson Sánchez had struck the crossbar, handing Switzerland a dramatic victory. Ruben Vargas converted the decisive spot-kick to seal the win and set up a blockbuster quarter-final against defending champions Argentina. It was heartbreak for Colombia, whose hopes of reaching only the second World Cup quarter-final in their history, after their 2014 run in Brazil, ended in the shootout. (PC: X)

Argentina came from two goals down to beat Egypt 3-2 and reach the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-finals, but the dramatic victory was overshadowed by VAR controversy. Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan criticised the officiating after Mostafa Ziko’s equaliser was ruled out following a lengthy VAR review, denying the Pharaohs a 3-1 lead. Egypt also questioned why a later incident involving Argentina’s winning goal was not reviewed, accusing officials of inconsistent decisions. Lionel Messi, Cristian Romero and Enzo Fernandez scored as Argentina completed a late comeback in Atlanta. Furious Egyptian players and staff argued the disputed VAR calls changed the outcome, reigniting debate over the technology’s consistency.

Argentina produced one of the most dramatic comebacks of the FIFA World Cup 2026, defeating Egypt 3-2 after trailing 2-0 in their Round of 16 clash. Egypt stunned the defending champions with goals from Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Ziko, while Lionel Messi also missed an early penalty. Argentina responded in the final 13 minutes as Cristian Romero headed in from a Messi cross before the captain equalised with a powerful finish. Deep into stoppage time, Enzo Fernandez headed home the winner to complete a remarkable turnaround and send Argentina into the World Cup quarter-finals after an unforgettable contest. 

Lionel Messi set an unwanted FIFA World Cup record after missing his fourth career penalty in Argentina's Round of 16 clash against Egypt. The Egyptian goalkeeper, Mostafa Shobeir, saved Messi's spot-kick, making him the first player to miss two penalties in a single World Cup edition and the player with the most missed penalties in tournament history. Despite trailing 2-0, Argentina staged a stunning late comeback, with Messi scoring the equaliser and providing an assist before Enzo Fernandez netted the stoppage-time winner to seal a 3-2 victory. Argentina advanced to the quarter-finals, where they will face the winner of Switzerland vs Colombia.

Argentina produced a dramatic comeback to defeat Egypt 3-2 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 after trailing 2-0 in Atlanta. Lionel Messi missed an early penalty but sparked the fightback by assisting Cristian Romero's goal before scoring the equaliser in the second half. Egypt looked set for a famous victory after goals from Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Ziko, while goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir made several outstanding saves. However, Enzo Fernandez headed home the winner in stoppage time to complete Argentina's remarkable turnaround and book the defending champions a place in the World Cup quarter-finals.

Tensions between Iran and the United States escalated after a senior Tehran official claimed that Washington now has "only the nuclear option left" if it wants to confront Iran. The remark, made by Tehran's deputy mayor, came amid continuing strain over Iran's nuclear programme and recent regional tensions. The statement reflects increasingly hardline rhetoric from Iranian officials as diplomatic efforts remain uncertain. The United States has repeatedly said it wants to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, while Tehran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes. The latest comments are expected to further complicate already fragile relations. (PC: India Today)

Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah will face each other when Argentina take on Egypt in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 on Tuesday. The match is being billed as a meeting of two football icons who have inspired their nations for years. Messi, 39, is chasing back-to-back World Cup titles and has hinted this could be his final tournament. Salah, 34, has guided Egypt to the knockout stage for the first time in the country's history and hopes to create another memorable chapter. Beyond the quarter-final place, the game represents a clash of two legendary careers.

Belgium celebrated its 4-1 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 win over the United States with a viral "Trump dance" and social media post saying, "Overturn this." The celebration came after FIFA allowed US striker Folarin Balogun to play by suspending his one-match ban. The decision had drawn criticism from Belgium before the match. Romelu Lukaku scored Belgium's fourth goal as the team reached the quarter-finals. Belgium coach Rudi Garcia said the controversy did not affect his team's performance. Belgium will now face Spain in the quarter-finals on Friday. (PC: Getty via AFP)