Mostafa Zico also declared the World Cup 'fixed' after Lionel Messi and Argentina mounted an improbable comeback to oust Egypt.

FIFA has drawn flak for naming an all-Argentine referee panel for the quarterfinal match between France and Morocco.

The small coffee house in Cairo was turned Tuesday into a tiny stadium. Several hundred people, mostly men and boys as young as seven, gathered around wall-mounted screens ahead of the kickoff whistle.

Egypt manager Hossam Hassan has sensationally accused FIFA of 'rigging' the World Cup after his side crashed out of the 2026 tournament in the round of 16 after being beaten 3-2 by Argentina. Egypt were 2-0 up with 78 minutes on the clock but Argentina completed a comeback in injury time to win 3-2 and progress to the quarter-finals where they will play Switzerland.

With 12 minutes of normal time remaining, Egypt stood on the cusp of their greatest-ever World Cup result. The Pharaohs led Argentina, the reigning world champions, 2-0 in Atlanta Stadium. A quarter-final spot - their first - beckoned for the football-obsessed African country.

Lionel Messi and the Egypt coach were involved in a heated exchange after Argentina beat Egypt 3-2 in a controversial FIFA World Cup match.