Live coverage and text updates as Argentina play Egypt in the round of 16 knockout stage.
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Argentina survived a real scare from Cape Verde, who twice came from behind, before Diney Borges’ own goal in the 111th minute edged Scaloni’s men through.
Since then, Brazil and Portugal have joined Germany and the Netherlands in crashing out of the competition.
Scaloni believes the unique challenges of a tournament spread across three countries and 16 host cities, across various time zones and wildly different climates, are allowing smaller sides to compete.
“This World Cup is challenging – the travel, the heat, the pitches,” added Scaloni.
“There are many factors preventing any single team from clearly standing out as the overwhelming favourite, even though the usual favourites remain.
“France really struggled against Paraguay the other day and not just because of Paraguay’s quality, but due to various match conditions: The heat, the kickoff time, the pitch where the ball wouldn’t run and the game being paused in the 20th minute.
“That’s why I say it’s not a typical World Cup in that regard. No one team has pulled significantly ahead of the pack, but ultimately the usual contenders will make it to the end.”
Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni said sides should be given more rest in the final stages of the World Cup as the defending champions face a gruelling schedule in the knockout phases.
Should Argentina progress to the final, they face five games in 17 days, putting an extra demand on 39-year-old Lionel Messi to maintain his flying start to the World Cup.
Messi has scored seven times in La Albiceleste’s four wins so far, but they were pushed by Cape Verde on Friday before prevailing 3-2 after extra time.
“As you get closer to the end, with more matches played, you need more rest, yet the opposite is happening,” Scaloni said at his pre-match news conference.
“We played in Miami the other day in that heat, and now we’re playing tomorrow at noon. The rest period isn’t ideal.
“I think Egypt has had a few more hours [to recover], not a huge difference, but I believe that as the World Cup reaches its final stages, rest becomes even more crucial.”
Fatouh (muscle) and El Fotouh (hamstring) are out injured.
Predicted starting XI:
(4-2-3-1): Shobeir (goalkeeper); Hany, Ibrahim, Rabia, Hafez; Fathy, Ateya; Ashour, Salah, Marmoush; Zico
Gonzalez (ankle injury) and Medina (physical discomfort) are doubts.
Predicted starting XI:
(4-4-2): E Martinez (goalkeeper); Molina, Romero, L Martinez, Tagliafico; De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernandez, Almada; Messi, Lautaro
What will be the outcome in our featured World Cup 2026 round of 16 game between Argentina and Egypt?
⚽️LIVE Coverage: https://t.co/QuG9mKEs4V
— AJE Sport (@AJE_Sport) July 7, 2026
Hello and welcome to Al Jazeera’s live coverage of Argentina vs Egypt in the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup.
Argentina and Egypt head into their World Cup last-16 clash in Atlanta with little time to recover after both survived gruelling physical tests in their first knockout matches.
Reigning champions Argentina needed extra time to edge World Cup debutants Cape Verde 3-2 on Friday, while Egypt endured 120 minutes before defeating Australia 4-2 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw.
Argentina’s main man has been Lionel Messi, who turned 39 during this tournament and has already matched his personal record for seven World Cup goals set four years ago in Qatar.
But he remains firmly entrenched in a tight Golden Boot race with France’s Kylian Mbappe and Norway’s Erling Haaland, who each pulled level with Messi in their respective countries’ round of 16 victories.
Egypt star Mohamed Salah needs just one goal to equal his country’s goalscoring record of 68, set by current coach Hossam Hassan.
Salah, 34, has been limited at this World Cup by a hamstring injury, grabbing a goal and two assists while being subbed off in each of Egypt’s three group-stage matches.
Either Switzerland or Colombia await the winner in the quarterfinals.
I’m Patrick Keddie, and I’ll bring you all the pre-match build-up, analysis and photo coverage of the game.
Alex Hoad will provide the team news as soon as the lineups are announced and will take you through the minute-by-minute live commentary.
Lionel Messi’s Argentina go up against Mohamed Salah’s Egypt in a spicy World Cup round of 16 encounter.
Argentina continue their knockout journey against Egypt as Switzerland and Colombia also fight for progression.
Streets lined with flags, conversations centred on one match, and hopes pinned on the team ahead of Egypt vs Argentina.
Colombia, the World Cup’s dangerous outsiders, take on Switzerland in Vancouver for a place in the quarterfinals.
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