VAR controversy mars Argentina’s dramatic win over Egypt in World Cup Round of 16

A late 3-2 victory for Argentina over Egypt in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 has been overshadowed by fierce debate over inconsistent Video Assistant Referee (VAR) decisions. With the score at 2-2 deep into stoppage time, Argentina found the winner, but footage from the build-up showed an Argentine player challenging Egypt’s No. 10 in a tackle that many viewers believed warranted a foul or penalty. 

VAR officials reviewed the incident but allowed the goal to stand. Earlier in the match, Egypt had a goal disallowed for a similar foul in the build-up, fuelling accusations of inconsistent application of the rules. Images circulating widely on social media captured the contentious moment, showing the Egyptian player falling as the Argentine defender contested the ball. 

VAR controversy mars Argentina’s dramatic win over Egypt in World Cup Round of 16

The images quickly went viral, amassing tens of thousands of comments and sparking heated discussions among fans about refereeing standards and potential bias in high-stakes fixtures. 

FIFA has not yet commented on the specific calls. Meanwhile, the result sees Argentina advance to the quarter-finals, while Egypt’s campaign ends amid frustration over the officiating. The incident has reignited broader conversations about the reliability of VAR in the tournament.

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