Argentina FA investigates alleged hack after emails question victory over Egypt

Argentina’s Football Association says it may have been the victim of a cyberattack after reports emerged that emails sent from one of its official accounts appeared to question the legitimacy of the national team’s dramatic World Cup victory over Egypt.

The controversy comes days after Argentina staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Egypt 3-2 in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, recovering from a two-goal deficit to secure a place in the quarter-finals.

Emails reportedly challenged Argentina’s victory

According to reports from the BBC and several Argentine media outlets, including La Voz, journalists received emails from an Argentine Football Association account claiming that Argentina “did not win” and that the result was invalid because it had been influenced by “corrupt refereeing decisions.”

The messages reportedly also praised Egypt’s performance during the match.

The claims emerged amid growing debate over the officiating of the encounter, with the Egyptian Football Association having already called on FIFA to remove French referee Francois Letexier and his officiating team from the tournament, alleging bias in favour of the defending champions.

Federation points to possible cyberattack

Argentine media reported that sources within the association believe the messages may have been sent by hackers who gained unauthorised access to one of its official accounts.

In a statement issued after the reports surfaced, the federation said it had identified the possibility that emails had been distributed without authorisation.

“We would like to inform you that we have detected the possibility of emails being sent from one of our corporate accounts, which was not created or authorised by our team.”

The federation urged recipients to disregard suspicious communications.

“Ignore any message you have recently received from our account that seems unusual, especially if it contains links, attachments, or requests for personal information.”

Security investigation under way

The association said it was investigating the incident and taking steps to secure its systems.

“There is a possibility that our account has been subjected to an unauthorised hack, so we are working to clarify what happened and take the necessary security measures.”

The episode adds another layer of controversy to one of the most dramatic matches of the tournament, with Argentina progressing to the quarter-finals while Egypt’s exit continues to generate debate both on and off the pitch.