Egypt is preparing for one of its biggest matches in recent football history as the Pharaohs get ready to face Argentina in the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The match in Atlanta will feature two of the game’s biggest stars, Mohamed Salah and Lionel Messi, as both teams compete for a place in the quarterfinals.
Egypt earned its place in the knockout stage after defeating Australia in a dramatic penalty shootout. The victory marked the country’s first World Cup knockout win and sparked celebrations among players and supporters.
Captain Mohamed Salah played a key role in the shootout by stepping forward to take an important penalty. After the match, he said experience helped him make the decision.
Salah explained that he wanted to give confidence to his teammates by taking responsibility in a high-pressure moment. He also described the victory as one of the happiest days of his career.
Attention has now shifted to Argentina, the defending world champion led by captain Lionel Messi. The upcoming match will be the first international meeting between Salah and Messi, although they have faced each other twice before in the UEFA Champions League during their club careers.
Their first meeting came when Salah played for Roma. They later met again when Liverpool faced Barcelona in the Champions League semifinals. Although Salah missed Liverpool’s famous second-leg comeback because of injury, he remained part of one of football’s most memorable European campaigns.
Egypt’s coaching staff has urged players to focus on the team rather than individual stars. National team director Ibrahim Hassan said the squad respects Messi but believes Egypt also has world-class talent capable of making the difference.
He said the players have been encouraged to play with confidence instead of being distracted by Argentina’s reputation. Hassan also praised Salah’s leadership and experience, describing him as a major source of inspiration for the squad.
Salah has continued to recover from the hamstring injury he suffered during the group stage. Although there were concerns about his fitness after returning to action, he trained with the Egyptian squad before the match and appeared in good spirits while preparing in Atlanta.
Argentina also enters the match after a demanding victory over Cape Verde. The defending champions advanced following a difficult contest that required a strong defensive effort. Former Argentina striker Sergio Agüero has said the short recovery period could be challenging for both teams.
Agüero noted that several Argentine players dealt with physical fatigue during their previous match. He also warned that Egypt possesses pace, strength, and attacking quality that could cause problems for the defending champions.
Egypt will also rely on other attacking players to support Salah. Omar Marmoush remains one of the team’s main threats despite a quiet start to the tournament. Young forward Hamza Abdelkarim has also impressed after making substitute appearances throughout the competition and is regarded as one of Egypt’s brightest emerging talents.
Recent reports from the Egyptian Football Association have suggested Salah could remain national team captain through the 2030 FIFA World Cup. While no official announcement has been made regarding his club future after leaving Liverpool, the veteran forward has previously said he has several options for the next stage of his career.
Despite recent injury setbacks, Salah has continued to influence matches. Tournament statistics show he has created more scoring chances than any other player at the World Cup so far, underlining his importance to Egypt’s attack.
The match also gives Salah the opportunity to equal Egypt’s national team scoring record. One more international goal would move him level with head coach Hossam Hassan’s record of 69 goals for the country.
Argentina enters the contest as one of the tournament favorites, but Egypt arrives with growing confidence after its historic victory over Australia. With Salah leading the attack and Messi guiding the defending champions, football fans around the world are expected to watch one of the most anticipated matches of the Round of 16.
