It’s Lionel Messi up against Mohamed Salah as the penultimate World Cup 2026 last-16 showdown sees Argentina go up against Egypt. A date with either Switzerland or Colombia awaits for today’s winners in the quarter-finals in Kansas City on Saturday, with Argentina the obvious favourites but certainly no longer considered potentially infallible after having to work so hard to avoid arguably the biggest upset in World Cup history at the hands of debutants Cape Verde in the round of 32 on Friday.
Lionel Scaloni’s side needed an 111th-minute own goal in Miami to prevent being taken to a penalty shootout by the tournament’s surprise package amid a slew of injury issues, having twice been pegged back following goals by Messi and Lisandro Martinez. Argentina will be desperate to bounce back and reassert some authority here as they make three changes, with Nicolas Tagliafico, Leandro Paredes and Julian Alvarez all coming in.
Egypt will also have to quickly recover after going all the way to spot-kicks against Australia as they won a World Cup knockout game for the first time, with Omar Marmoush dropped in a massive selection shock. Follow Argentina vs Egypt live below!
Argentina vs Egypt latest news
- World Cup holders Argentina behind at half-time
- Mostafa Shobeir shines with first-half stops
- Messi hits the post with brilliant free-kick
- Messi penalty saved by Mostafa Shobeir
- GOAL! Yasser Ibrahim scores early header
Hydration break
18:39 , George Flood
Lionel Scaloni needs to deliver the team talk of his life during this second-half hydration break.
Trezeguet is coming on for Haissem Hassan, who has been brilliant for Egypt after surprisingly replacing Omar Marmoush in the starting XI.
Argentina have already thrown on Gonzalo Montiel, Nico Gonzalez and Lautaro Martinez for Molina, Tagliafico and De Paul.
GOAL! Argentina 0-2 Egypt | Mostafa Zico 67'
18:32 , George Flood
67 mins: No ruling that one out!
Argentina have been trying to make the most of that earlier reprieve and force a couple of corners, but they can’t capitalise and away come Egypt on a devastating counter-attack.
The holders are carved open by Salah and the excellent Haissem Hassan, who squares it for Mostafa Zico to turn home past Emiliano Martinez.
A man named after a Brazilian icon may just have ended Argentina’s World Cup title defence and Lionel Messi’s career on football’s biggest stage.
Egypt goal ruled out after VAR review
18:27 , George Flood
60 mins: A truly great Egypt goal - one that may just have secured their place in the World Cup quarter-finals - is ruled out for a foul on Lisandro Martinez by Marwan Attia.
French referee Francois Letexier announced the decision to a relieved pro-Argentina crowd after a VAR review.
1-0 it remains and Argentina are still alive...
Second Egypt goal under review
18:22 , George Flood
58 mins: Would you believe it!
A sensational move from Egypt is finished off expertly by Mostafa Zico to leave Argentina reeling.
But this is being looked at for a potential foul...
Argentina 0-1 Egypt
18:21 , George Flood
53 mins: It’s constant pressure from Argentina now, but they don’t look particularly dangerous with it.
Paredes sent one shot into orbit.
Argentina 0-1 Egypt
18:13 , George Flood
47 mins: Straight on the offensive from Argentina, with De Paul’s tame low effort easily held by Mostafa Shobeir.
They then look to spring Messi clear amid suspicions of offside, but he’s met by Ramy Rabia.
Back underway
18:10 , George Flood
We’re off and running in a massive second half in Atlanta.
A huge 45 minutes ahead.
It’s actually Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan who has made a change at the break, with Hamdi Fathy replacing Emam Ashour.
Ashour is injured, by the sounds of things.
A big blow for the Pharaohs.
Messi's latest penalty miss
18:05 , George Flood
Does anyone in that Argentina camp have the bravery to suggest another penalty-taker?
I doubt it...
Messi MISSES another penalty 🙅♂️
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 7, 2026
Egypt's keeper Mostafa Shobeir throws himself at the ball to stop
Argentina capitalising on a foul on Nicolas Tagliafico 🫨 pic.twitter.com/O3RuRaU5aa
Half-time
18:00 , George Flood
Argentina 0-1 Egypt
Well, who saw this coming?!
Argentina are behind at half-time in a World Cup fixture for the first time since 2010, courtesy of Yasser Ibrahim’s rocket of a header after 15 minutes as he left Lisandro Martinez in the dust.
They had the chance to hit back almost immediately after Haissem Hassan’s foul on Nicolas Tagliafico, but Lionel Messi’s poor penalty was easily saved by Mostafa Shobeir, who has been inspired to also deny the likes of Julian Alvarez and Alexis Mac Allister.
Messi also curled a free-kick off the post.
The holders are in danger again, four days after being taken to extra time by Cape Verde.
They have 45 minutes to save their title defence - and prolong Messi’s sixth and surely final World Cup finals appearance.
Argentina 0-1 Egypt
17:53 , George Flood
50 mins: Those same Argentina fans are now sounding very restless as half-time approaches.
Mac Allister shows his frustration during a clash with Mostafa Shobeir.
Argentina 0-1 Egypt
17:51 , George Flood
48 mins: That landing rather knocked the wind out of Ramy Rabia, but he’s okay to continue after some treatment.
The thousands of Argentina fans inside Atlanta Stadium have gone very quiet.
It already feels very nervy indeed.
Argentina 0-1 Egypt
17:49 , George Flood
47 mins: A decent cross into the box from Argentina looks to find Messi, but it’s dealt with very well by Egypt.
Ramy Rabia is down and in some discomfort after rising high above Alvarez and landing horribly.
The medical staff immediately come on.
Argentina 0-1 Egypt
17:48 , George Flood
45 mins: Romero chops down Salah as five minutes of added time are signalled at the end of this engrossing first half in Atlanta.
It’s all gone a bit flat for Argentina, whose lack of natural width in this system is painfully apparent just at the moment.
Argentina 0-1 Egypt
17:47 , George Flood
Here is that emphatic header from Yasser Ibrahim that gave Egypt a shock early lead against Argentina.
Certainly not Lisandro Martinez’s finest hour...
What a ball! ⚽️
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 7, 2026
Yasser Ibrahim's 'perfect' header sends Egypt ahead early doors against Argentina 😱 pic.twitter.com/JUypcQ6QMr
Argentina 0-1 Egypt
17:45 , George Flood
40 mins: Argentina’s finishing continues to be extremely wayward, Alvarez the guilty party again.
You wonder if Lionel Scaloni will be pondering half-time changes.
Mostafa Shobeir denies Julian Alvarez
17:42 , George Flood
37 mins: Argentina are posing a real threat now as Messi looks to go through but fires well off target.
Now the excellent Mostafa Shobeir makes a superb low save to keep out Alvarez’s powerful effort after a fine assist from Tagliafico.
The Egypt goalkeeper stays down, flat on his back inside the six-yard box.
Messi's World Cup penalty struggles
17:40 , George Flood
For a change, an unwanted stat for Lionel Messi.
He put an early penalty wide against Austria in Argentina’s second group game, but rebounded to net twice - the first of which saw him overtake Miroslav Klose as the top World Cup finals goalscorer of all time.
Messi has now missed exactly half of his World Cup penalties.
Not what we’re used to seeing from arguably the greatest footballer in history.
2 - Lionel Messi is the first player in World Cup history to miss two penalties at a single edition (excluding shootouts).
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 7, 2026
Shock. pic.twitter.com/PThOcWlcat
Messi hits the post
17:34 , George Flood
31 mins: So close!
A brilliant free-kick by Messi evades the wall and the grasp of Mostafa Shobeir before clattering off the post.
A corner is bizarrely awarded, but VAR intervene to overturn that decision.
Argentina 0-1 Egypt
17:33 , George Flood
30 mins: We should mention there was a yellow card brandished in the direction of the Egypt bench after that penalty save.
Argentina are very lucky to get away with an error at the back.
Argentina 0-1 Egypt
17:31 , George Flood
27 mins: Argentina are upping the energy and intensity levels after the hydration break, no doubt after being read the riot act by head coach Lionel Scaloni.
Mac Allister should score with a header after being teed up nicely by De Paul, but it’s straight at Mostafa Shobeir.
A block now denies Fernandez.
Argentina 0-1 Egypt
17:30 , George Flood
The two major moments of this game so far. It feels like there are potentially many more to come.
Hydration break arrives
17:27 , George Flood
22 mins: The first hydration break gives us a chance to get our breath back.
How about that for a start to this high-profile last-16 tie?!
Egypt ahead thanks to Yasser Ibrahim’s thumping header, with Messi spurning the chance to quickly equalise from the penalty spot.
Is there a major shock brewing in Atlanta?
Messi misses another World Cup penalty
17:23 , George Flood
20 mins: It’s another penalty failure by Messi at the World Cup!
A poor effort is beaten away by Mostafa Shobeir.
Wow. Huge early drama in Atlanta.
Egypt still lead. What a reprieve.
Penalty to Argentina
17:21 , George Flood
18 mins: Argentina have a penalty to quickly get back level!
Haissem Hassan clatters into Tagliafico and referee Francois Letexier points straight to the spot.
No doubt about that one.
Messi to step up...
GOAL! Argentina 0-1 Egypt | Yasser Ibrahim 15'
17:18 , George Flood
15 mins: The World Cup holders are behind inside 15 minutes!
A nightmare for Lisandro Martinez, who plays Yasser Ibrahim onside and is then beaten in the air as the Egypt defender smashes an emphatic header home.
The cross from Marwan Attia was inch-perfect.
Just a second international goal for Yasser Ibrahim.
Argentina 0-0 Egypt
17:16 , George Flood
13 mins: Egypt win another free-kick and end up delivering another enticing cross into the Argentina box, but again it’s headed away.
Lisandro Martinez then concedes a corner, which is taken short.
Fernandez with shocking miss before offside flag
17:13 , George Flood
9 mins: An absolutely shocking miss from Fernandez from point-blank range after it was laid on a plate for the Chelsea midfielder by De Paul.
His blushes are spared by the offside flag, which is belatedly - and rightly - raised against De Paul.
Argentina 0-0 Egypt
17:10 , George Flood
7 mins: All very scrappy early on under the closed roof in Atlanta, with neither side able to keep possession for very long so far.
A dangerous Egypt delivery into the box is defended well by Manchester United centre-back Lisandro Martinez.
No real sign of Salah or Messi just yet.
Argentina 0-0 Egypt
17:06 , George Flood
3 mins: Argentina are quickly on the attack, with Liverpool star Mac Allister leading the charge.
However, well-drilled Egypt defend diligently inside the penalty area.
Fernandez looks fine to continue after that early knee scare.
Argentina 0-0 Egypt
17:04 , George Flood
1 min: Both sides are in their classic home kits, so it’s those iconic blue and white stripes against red and black this afternoon.
The referee is Francois Letexier of France, with Jerome Brisard on VAR duty.
It is a hugely noisy pro-Argentina crowd, with pockets of Egypt supporters.
An early concern for the holders as Fernandez stays down after a painful clash of knees in the opening seconds.
Argentina vs Egypt
17:02 , George Flood
Underway in Atlanta!
Switzerland or Colombia will await the winners of this game in the quarter-finals in Kansas City on Saturday.
Can the holders reassert some authority after being rocked by Cape Verde?
It’s time to find out...
Teams are out
16:56 , George Flood
Here come the teams in Atlanta, led out by their respective captains and superstars, Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah.
This is their first meeting since the Champions League semi-finals in 2018/19, when Salah’s Liverpool produced one of the greatest comebacks in competition history - winning 4-0 at Anfield to overturn a three-goal first-leg deficit.
They went on to defeat Tottenham in the final in Madrid.
It’s time for the national anthems, with Argentina up first.
Final preparations
16:39 , George Flood
The usual adoring reception for Lionel Messi as he warms up ahead of kick-off at Atlanta Stadium, which was the scene of England’s late comeback against DR Congo in the round of 32.
Do we have a similarly dramatic afternoon ahead of us today?
If that Cape Verde game was anything to go by...
Omar Marmoush dropped by Egypt
16:23 , George Flood
The big team news for Egypt is that Omar Marmoush does not start.
The Manchester City forward is his country’s second-biggest star behind Mohamed Salah, but he is dropped to the bench today in a huge call made by head coach Hossam Hassan.
French-born Real Oviedo forward Haissem Hassan earns just his sixth cap in Marmoush’s place.
The only other change from the penalty shootout win over Australia in the round of 32 is in midfield, where Mohanad Lasheen returns in place of Hamdi Fathy.
As expected, Karim Hafez has shaken off a muscle strain to line up at left-back.
Messi starts as Argentina make three changes
16:17 , George Flood
So the Argentina changes are as earlier advertised, with Nicolas Tagliafico in for the injured Facundo Medina at left-back.
Thiago Almada does indeed make way for Leandro Paredes, while it is Julian Alvarez - and not Lautaro Martinez - up front alongside Lionel Messi, who starts as usual despite that painful head knock sustained against Cape Verde.
Almada - along with Rodrigo De Paul - had been playing wide for Argentina in Lionel Scaloni’s 4-4-2 system, so it will be interesting to see who takes up that mantle today.
It presumably won’t be Paredes, so either Enzo Fernandez or, more likely, Alexis Mac Allister.
Egypt lineup
16:03 , George Flood
Egypt XI: Mostafa Shobeir; Mohamed Hany, Yasser Ibrahim, Ramy Rabia, Karim Hafez; Mohanad Lasheen, Marwan Attia, Emam Ashour; Haissem Hassan, Mostafa Ziko, Mohamed Salah
Argentina lineup
15:56 , George Flood
Argentina XI: Emiliano Martinez; Molina, Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Tagliafico; De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister, Paredes; Messi, Alvarez
No weather concerns for Argentina vs Egypt
15:40 , George Flood
The weather has been a major talking point at the World Cup once again in recent days, with 10-man England’s incredible 3-2 victory over co-hosts Mexico at the Estadio Azteca on Sunday night delayed by an hour due to storms in Mexico City.
It followed on from a similar delay before Mexico’s round-of-32 win over Ecuador at the same venue last week, while France’s Group I meeting with Iraq in Philadelphia was suspended by two hours.
But we’ll have no such concerns over this game, with the mightily impressive Atlanta Stadium - AKA Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United of the MLS - one of four venues at this tournament to feature a fully retractable roof.
The stadium is also fully air-conditioned, so players and fans alike will be sheltered from the heat, with temperatures of around 32 degrees forecast for a game that begins at midday local time in Georgia’s huge state capital.
Three Argentina changes expected for Egypt clash
15:27 , George Flood
Argentina are expected to make three changes today to the side that almost risked perhaps the biggest upset in World Cup history against Cape Verde in the round of 32.
Lyon’s Nicolas Tagliafico will deputise at left-back from the start, having replaced the injured Facundo Medina late on in normal time in Miami on Friday.
Boca Juniors midfielder Leandro Paredes is also set to get the nod as Atletico Madrid’s Thiago Almada - who is expected to return home to River Plate after the World Cup - makes way.
The final alteration is up front, where Almada’s Atletico team-mate Julian Alvarez should get the nod alongside Messi - replacing Lautaro Martinez.
Argentina vs Egypt prediction
15:15 , George Flood
Argentina, for the first time at this World Cup after cruising to the top of their group, showed a lot of vulnerabilities in their thrilling extra-time win over Cape Verde and that should give Egypt plenty of confidence.
However, with defensive concerns and Salah’s effectiveness being limited due to a lingering hamstring concern, it’s hard to make too strong a case for a shock result here.
Argentina to win, 2-0.
Egypt team news: Karim Hafez shrugs off injury
15:10 , George Flood
Egypt have been boosted by the fitness of left-back Karim Hafez, who went off injured with 10 minutes of normal time to go against Australia in the round of 32.
He was subsequently diagnosed with a muscle strain, but has quickly recovered as he bids to help keep quiet Argentina’s formidable attack led by Messi.
"I'm ready for the match. My injury was nothing more than a minor muscle strain," Hafez told Egyptian broadcaster ON Sport on Monday.
"It's a historic match against Argentina. This is the first time Egypt have reached the round of 16 at the World Cup, and we hope to go even further.
"Every player dreams of taking part in a major match like Argentina and competing on such a grand stage.
"We are fully prepared for this challenge, and our goal is to make the Egyptian people proud”.
Egypt will be without Ahmed Fatouh again today, while fellow defender Mohamed Abdelmonem remains a doubt.
Salah has been dealing with a hamstring issue at this World Cup but played every minute against Australia - scoring a Panenka in the penalty shootout - and will start again here.
Facundo Medina set to miss out for Argentina
15:01 , George Flood
Argentina left-back Facundo Medina was forced off injured against Cape Verde towards the end of normal time, with Nicolas Tagliafico taking over.
Winger Nico Gonzalez has been a doubt with an ankle sprain, though the likes of Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez and right-back Nahuel Molina were both able to rejoin training having missed an initial recovery session on Saturday.
Long-time head coach Lionel Scaloni is expected to make three changes to his starting XI to face Egypt.
More on those in a moment.
Argentina team news: Lionel Messi fit after head injury
14:53 , George Flood
Argentina had a number of walking wounded following that unforgettable epic against plucky Cape Verde in Miami, with Lionel Messi having finished the game with a nasty bruise and swelling on his forehead after receiving an accidental knee.
He received treatment and an ice pack before extra time, but ended up seeing out the full 120 minutes.
Messi said after the victory sealed by a 111th-minute own goal by Diney Borges that was forced by Cristian Romero that his head did hurt, but said he was fine.
There was no doubt about Argentina’s iconic captain missing this last-16 tie, though how quickly he is able to recover from such a gruelling contest in just four days after turning 39 earlier at this tournament will be interesting to see.
Messi has surpassed every expectation already at his sixth and surely final World Cup, which he came into nursing a hamstring issue, and will be desperate to ensure that his time on football’s biggest stage does not go the same way of old rival Cristiano Ronaldo, whose Portugal side were dumped out late by Spain yesterday.
How to watch Argentina vs Egypt
14:46 , George Flood
TV channel: Argentina vs Egypt in the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup will be televised live and free-to-air in the UK on ITV1, with coverage starting at 4.15pm BST.
Live stream: UK viewers can also watch the match live online via the ITVX app, which is free with a sign-up.
Argentina vs Egypt live
14:40 , George Flood
Two of football’s modern greats go head to head today as Argentina and Egypt collide for the penultimate spot in the quarter-finals at World Cup 2026.
Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah will both look to light up Atlanta Stadium this afternoon, with either Switzerland or Colombia awaiting the winners in Kansas City on Saturday.
Holders Argentina will be eager to quickly reassert some authority after only edging past minnows Cape Verde thanks to an own goal in an extra-time classic on Friday, after Egypt had held their nerve in a penalty shootout against Australia to win a knockout match at the World Cup for the very first time.
Kick-off is at 5pm BST, so stay tuned for match build-up, team news and live game updates.
