Cairo, Egypt – Egypt’s national football team experienced a rollercoaster night at the World Cup round of 16 in Atlanta, leading reigning champions Argentina by two goals before conceding three in 13 minutes to lose the match and bow out of the tournament.

Football is deeply cherished in Egypt, where millions watched the game in cafes, squares, and homes, hopeful as the Pharaohs approached a historic quarterfinal berth in North America. The team, led by Mohamed Salah, delivered one of their best performances in years.

A highlight came in the first half when Egyptian goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir saved a penalty taken by Lionel Messi, keeping the score at 0-0 and eliciting joyous ululations from fans. However, despite Egypt’s strong play, Argentina staged a late comeback inspired by Messi, scoring three goals to secure their place in the last eight.

The dramatic turnaround left Egyptians devastated and sparked anger over what many perceived as biased refereeing decisions favoring Argentina. Mohamed, an Egyptian fan, expressed that despite the loss, Egypt deserved to win and played “the match of a lifetime against Messi,” adding, “it’s clear FIFA doesn’t want him to go out.”

Mohamed also praised coach Hossam Hassan, saying, “From the beginning, I was not one of Hossam Hassan’s devotees or fans, but he completely changed my position on him,” highlighting the team spirit and leadership not seen since the era of legendary player Mohamed Aboutrika. He also noted the team’s solidarity with Gaza and Hassan’s support for its people.

Reflecting on the outcome, Mohamed said, “Today, we are happy with the national team’s performance and play, saddened by the victory that was lost because of the refereeing, and proud of the achievement that was made, and the world’s recognition that we were more deserving of the win.”