Egypt holds a surprise 1-0 lead over defending champions Argentina at halftime of their 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 clash. The Pharaohs made the brighter start and earned their reward in the 15th minute when Attia delivered a pinpoint cross from a short corner and Ibrahim rose above Lisandro Martínez to power a header past Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez.
Argentina had a golden opportunity to level the score just six minutes later after winning a penalty. Lionel Messi stepped up, but Egyptian goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir produced a superb save to preserve his team’s advantage. The miss gave Egypt even more confidence as they continued to defend with determination.
La Albiceleste increased the pressure for the remainder of the first half and created several dangerous chances in the 28th, 31st, and 40th minutes. However, Shobeir delivered an outstanding performance between the posts and denied Argentina every time. Egypt now stands just 45 minutes away from completing one of the biggest upsets of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and booking a historic place in the quarter-finals.
