Infantino ‘was not at Egypt-Argentina World Cup tie’, says FA chief Abu Rida

Egyptian Football Association president Hany Abu Rida insists FIFA president Gianni Infantino did not attend Egypt’s World Cup last-16 defeat by Argentina, as he moved to clarify a series of controversies surrounding the match and its aftermath.

Egypt exited the 2026 World Cup with a 3-2 loss to Argentina in the last 16, a game overshadowed by debate over refereeing decisions and the cancellation of what Abu Rida described as Egypt’s best goal of the tournament.

Abu Rida rejected reports circulating about Infantino’s supposed reaction to Egypt’s disallowed goal, stressing that the FIFA president was not even in the stadium.

“Infantino did not attend the Egypt-Argentina match as was promoted,” Abu Rida said, denying claims that the FIFA chief had shown any visible response in the stands when Egypt scored against the Albiceleste.

Egypt players ‘hurt’ but did not confront referee

Abu Rida explained that he had met the Egypt squad before the knockout tie and had been struck by their belief that they could upset Argentina.

“The players had an extraordinary level of confidence before facing Argentina and were fully focused,” he said.

Despite that, Abu Rida admitted he was anxious going into the game, conscious of both the scale of the task and the physical toll the tournament had taken on the squad.

“I was scared in the Argentina match because of my responsibility towards the people,” he said. “I also felt the players’ effort was starting to drop because of the constant travelling over the five World Cup matches and the time difference.”

Following the defeat, Abu Rida said the mood in the dressing room reflected a deep sense of injustice, even though the players chose not to confront the match officials.

“After the Argentina match, the players had a lump in their throats,” he said. “No one objected to the referee, and no player asked Messi for his shirt.”

By contrast, he revealed that several Argentina players were keen to swap shirts with Egypt’s star forward.

“Argentina’s players were waiting for Salah outside the dressing room to get his shirt,” Abu Rida said.

Refereeing controversy and abandoned Egypt goal

Abu Rida voiced particular frustration over the disallowed Egyptian goal, arguing that FIFA’s own refereeing guidelines had not been applied consistently.

The 70-year-old said the head of the FIFA Referees Committee had previously instructed officials not to go back and give a foul in the build-up if play had continued, passed through several phases and moved away from goal – a description he felt matched Egypt’s ruled-out strike.

“The chairman of the Referees Committee gave referees instructions not to award a foul if it was far from goal and the ball had been exchanged more than once, like Egypt’s disallowed goal – and this was not implemented with us,” he said.

Abu Rida claimed that the handling of that incident shaped international opinion ahead of the World Cup final, where Argentina were beaten 1-0 by Spain, who lifted the trophy.

“The whole world was against Argentina in the final because of what happened in the Egypt match,” he said.

No formal protest but global ‘discontent’

Abu Rida stressed that the Egyptian FA had chosen not to file an official protest over the refereeing, limiting themselves instead to a written account of events.

“We did not submit a protest about what happened in the match,” he said. “We only provided a report.”

He also dismissed speculation that Argentina were being favoured to stay in the tournament for commercial reasons.

“What was said about a desire for Argentina to continue in the tournament for marketing reasons is not true,” he said. “The entire tournament was sold out before it started.”

Nonetheless, Abu Rida argued that there was widespread unease internationally about what he saw as preferential treatment for the South American champions.

“The whole world was upset with the way Argentina were treated in the World Cup,” he added.

Conversations with Infantino and Collina

Abu Rida also recounted behind-the-scenes exchanges with Infantino and Pierluigi Collina, the chairman of FIFA’s Referees Committee, following the controversial tie.

“I told Infantino that the most beautiful goal at the 2026 World Cup was Egypt’s disallowed goal against Argentina, and he agreed with me,” Abu Rida said.

He went on to describe an awkward meeting with Collina after the match.

“I met Collina after the Argentina match and he was embarrassed in front of me,” Abu Rida said. “He told me that we would meet soon to clarify some matters. I told him, ‘The dead has been buried.’”

Trump and Balogun suspension decision

Abu Rida also commented on the decision to lift the suspension of United States forward Folarin Balogun before their last-16 tie with Belgium, after the player had been sent off in the previous match.

He linked that move to a decision by then US president Donald Trump, while making clear his disapproval.

Speaking about Trump’s role in having the ban overturned, Abu Rida said: “Trump does whatever he wants.”

FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee had opted to remove Balogun’s suspension ahead of the USA’s knockout game against Belgium, allowing the striker to feature despite his earlier red card.