World Cup 2026: Former Argentina star Sergio Aguero wary of Egypt threat ahead of round 16 clash

Argentina football legend, Sergio Aguero, has warned his outfit to be wary of Egypt threat ahead of their highly anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 clash.

The defending champions are preparing for a decisive knockout encounter against the North African football powerhouse on Tuesday in the tournament hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The match carries significant stakes, with a place in the quarter-finals on the line.

Egypt enter the fixture full of confidence after a dramatic qualification to the last 16, having defeated Australia on penalties following a 1-1 draw in regular and extra time. The result has boosted hopes of a historic run, as the Pharaohs aim to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time.

Speaking to ESPN, Aguero highlighted the physical and attacking strength of the Egyptian team, while also pointing to potential challenges for Argentina in terms of recovery and fatigue.

“What worries me now is that we only have four days to rest and travel, in addition to many players suffering from muscle cramps, and now we face Egypt, which is also a physically strong team. I think they have better attacking quality than Cape Verde,” Aguero said.

The former Argentina striker also referenced his own past experience against Egypt, recalling a friendly match in 2008 at Cairo Stadium where he scored in Argentina’s 2-0 victory.

Argentina, meanwhile, were pushed to their limits in the Round of 32, needing extra time to secure a hard-fought 3-2 win over Cape Verde in a match that tested their resilience and depth.

Despite their status as favourites, concerns have been raised within the Argentine camp about the physical demands of the tournament schedule. Midfielder Leandro Paredes also acknowledged the difficulty of the upcoming fixture, describing it as a serious test.

“It will be a very difficult match. We are at the elite level in football, and all national teams are physically strong,” Paredes said.

With both teams arriving in strong form and carrying momentum into the knockout stage, the clash between Egypt and Argentina is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched fixtures of the round, as the Pharaohs look to continue their impressive World Cup journey against one of the tournament favourites.