Argentina secured their place in the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup after winning a dramatic match against Egypt at Atlanta Stadium on Tuesday (7/7) night. Having fallen two goals behind, the defending champions' squad managed a sensational comeback to seal a narrow 3-2 victory.
The match was tough for the Albiceleste from the opening minutes. Egypt took the lead through a header by Yasser Ibrahim in the 15th minute. Argentina actually had a golden opportunity to equalize through Lionel Messi's penalty, but Egyptian goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir performed brilliantly to save the shot.
The situation looked difficult for Argentina when Egypt doubled their lead to 2-0 through a shot by Mostafa Zico in the 67th minute. Without VAR intervention, that goal added to the mental burden of the defending champions, who were constantly pressured by Egypt's quick counterattacks throughout the second half.
Argentina's revival began in the 79th minute through a goal by Cristian Romero, capitalizing on a well-timed pass from Lionel Messi. That momentum triggered a flurry of attacks until Messi finally redeemed his earlier failure with a crucial goal in the 83rd minute, equalizing at 2-2.
In stoppage time, specifically in the 90+2 minute, Argentina finally secured their ticket to victory through a header by Enzo Martinez, who met a cross from Lautaro Martínez. This final score of 3-2 seals Argentina's position to advance further in the most prestigious football competition.
