World Cup 2026: Infantino pays tribute to Egypt after defeat to Argentina

FIFA President Gianni Infantino drew attention after carrying the Egyptian flag following the Pharaohs’ dramatic elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Egypt’s World Cup campaign ended in heartbreaking fashion after they suffered a 3-2 defeat to defending champions Argentina in the Round of 16 at the Atlanta Stadium, despite taking a two-goal lead during the match.

The result sparked controversy, with Egypt’s players and coaching staff expressing frustration over several refereeing decisions, including the cancellation of Mostafa Zico’s goal after a VAR review.

Infantino shows support for Egypt after World Cup heartbreak

Shortly after Egypt’s elimination, Infantino appeared at the PC Place Stadium in Vancouver, Canada, where he attended the final Round of 16 clash between Switzerland and Colombia.

The FIFA president’s appearance attracted attention after he was seen holding the Egyptian flag and posing for several commemorative photographs inside the stadium.

The gesture quickly became a talking point, especially following the disappointment surrounding Egypt’s exit and the criticism directed towards the officiating during their match against Argentina.

Egypt’s exit followed by refereeing controversy

The Pharaohs had been on the verge of reaching the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history after establishing a 2-0 advantage against the reigning champions.

However, Argentina completed a stunning comeback through Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernandez to secure a place in the next round.

Following the defeat, Egypt coach Hossam Hassan strongly criticised the circumstances surrounding the match, claiming that refereeing decisions had unfairly contributed to his team’s elimination.

Hassan also questioned whether Argentina’s status and Lionel Messi’s global appeal had influenced decisions during the tournament.

Switzerland set up Argentina quarter-final meeting

While Egypt’s World Cup journey came to an end, Switzerland advanced to the quarter-finals after defeating Colombia on penalties.

The two teams played out a goalless draw after 120 minutes, before Switzerland prevailed in the shootout to book a place in the last eight.

The victory sets up a quarter-final meeting with Argentina early next Sunday morning, as the defending champions continue their pursuit of another World Cup title.