Following Egypt’s dramatic 3-2 exit from the World Cup at the hands of Argentina, Egyptian head coach Hossam Hassan has leveled explosive accusations against FIFA, claiming the match was rigged to ensure Lionel Messi’s team advances.
Despite holding a 2-0 lead for much of the match, Egypt conceded three goals in the final 13 minutes, allowing the defending champions to snatch a quarter-final spot.
"Business Interests" and Match-Fixing
Speaking at the post-match press conference, a visibly frustrated Hassan did not mince words regarding the tournament’s integrity.
He insisted that the result was a product of manipulation rather than sport. "The match was completely rigged. The whole world saw it. We played better than Argentina. Football was not fair today."
Disputed Officiating Decisions
Hassan’s grievances centered on what he described as a series of biased officiating decisions that swung the match in Argentina's favor:
Denied Penalty: The coach claimed Egypt was denied a clear penalty late in the match that could have changed the outcome.
Disallowed Goal: Hassan vehemently defended the validity of a goal scored by Mostafa Zico early in the second half, which was ruled out by the officials.
Tournament Boycott
In protest of what he perceives as systemic injustice, the Egyptian coach announced his intention to withdraw his engagement with the remainder of the World Cup.
"I will not watch the rest of the matches in this World Cup," Hassan declared. "I told my players that if there is justice, we are capable of competing against the biggest teams in the world."
As of now, there has been no official response from FIFA or the match officiating team regarding the allegations made by the Egyptian head coach.
The accusations have intensified the ongoing debate surrounding refereeing standards and perceived bias in the 2026 tournament.
