World Cup thrillers continue: Argentina advances, Egypt protests, VAR under scrutiny

The FIFA World Cup 2026 continues to deliver dramatic encounters, with Argentina securing a thrilling 3-2 comeback victory against Egypt in their Round of 16 clash. Despite Egypt taking a commanding two-goal lead and being on the verge of a significant upset, Argentina rallied in the closing minutes, scoring three times, including a crucial equalizer from Lionel Messi, to advance to the quarter-finals.

However, the match was overshadowed by considerable controversy surrounding several officiating and Video Assistant Referee (VAR) decisions. Egypt lodged strong protests after a goal that would have extended their lead was disallowed following a VAR review, and a late penalty appeal for the African side was waved away just before Argentina netted their winning goal.

The Egyptian Football Association and head coach Hossam Hassan have vocally criticized the refereeing, suggesting a lack of fairness and even a potential bias towards the defending champions. This contentious encounter has further fueled the broader scrutiny and debate surrounding the consistent application of VAR technology throughout the current World Cup tournament.