Atlanta prepares for Argentina versus Egypt in World Cup last 16
World Cup 2026 last 16 clash
Argentina are set to face Egypt in the World Cup 2026 round of 16 at the Atlanta Stadium today. The reigning champions will aim to secure their place in the quarter-finals against an Egyptian side that has already made history in the tournament. Kick-off is scheduled for 12pm EDT/5pm BST.
The atmosphere in Atlanta is building, with temperatures already in the 30s outside the air-conditioned stadium. Thousands of Argentina fans have gathered, some travelling from as far as Buenos Aires, hoping to see their team advance. There is also a significant presence of Pharaohs supporters, many wearing Mohamed Salah shirts, eager for their team to achieve a notable victory.
Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, enter the match as clear favourites. The Opta supercomputer, based on 25,000 pre-match simulations, gives them a 69.1 percent chance of winning within 90 minutes. However, Egypt cannot be underestimated, with a 12.3 percent chance of an upset and 18.5 percent of simulations ending in a draw, which would lead to extra time.
This match marks only the third encounter between the two nations. Their most recent meeting was a 2-0 friendly victory for Argentina in Cairo in 2008, with goals from Sergio Aguero and Nicolas Burdisso. Lionel Messi was absent from that game due to injury. The only other fixture was at the 1928 Olympic Games, where Argentina won 6-0.
Team changes and player focus
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has made three changes to the starting XI following their 3-2 extra-time win over Cape Verde. Nicolás Tagliafico, Leandro Paredes, and Julian Alvarez come into the side, replacing Facundo Medina, Thiago Almada, and Lautaro Martínez.
Egypt has also made two changes after their penalty shootout victory against Australia. Haissem Hassan replaces Omar Marmoush up front, while Mohanad Lasheen steps into midfield in place of Hamdy Fathy. Mohamed Salah, despite reports of a hamstring injury, played 120 minutes in the previous match and created five chances for his teammates.
Lionel Messi is vying for the Golden Boot, and a goal today would place him ahead in the race for the prestigious award. His performance will be crucial for Argentina, who had a straightforward group stage with wins over Algeria, Austria, and Jordan, but faced a tougher challenge against Cape Verde.
Egypt, making their first-ever World Cup knockout victory, overcame an injury crisis to defeat Australia on penalties. They are confident of pushing the holders, especially with Mohanad Lasheen back and growing positivity regarding the availability of defensive duo Mohamed Abdelmonem and Ahmed Fatouh.
Beyond the pitch
The World Cup continues to deliver significant moments off the pitch, including Cristiano Ronaldo’s final appearance in the tournament. Following Portugal’s defeat, the 41-year-old forward confirmed his departure from the World Cup, expressing disappointment but a clear conscience after giving his best.
Meanwhile, Egypt’s head coach, Hossam Hassan, used a pre-match press conference to deliver an emotional message regarding the situation facing the Palestinians. He held up a Palestinian flag after Egypt’s win over Australia and spoke for over four minutes, receiving applause from journalists.
Separately, France captain Kylian Mbappe condemned Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla for racist remarks made after Paraguay’s defeat to France. Mbappe described her comments as “despicable” and “unworthy” of representing Paraguay’s Congress, stating that such racism overshadowed the achievements of Paraguay’s players during the tournament. Amarilla later deleted her posts and issued an open letter to Mbappe, expressing regret for her insults.
The winner of the Argentina versus Egypt match will advance to face either Switzerland or Colombia in the quarter-finals.
Isla Hartley is a Sports Reporter at NewsUK. She covered the British summer of sport from Wimbledon to the Test grounds. She focuses on tennis, cricket and athletics and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. She holds a degree in Sports Studies from the University of Stirling and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Glasgow, she runs half-marathons and follows Scottish athletics. “The overlooked athlete usually has the better story.”
