Egyptian Star Ziko Accuses 2026 World Cup of Being Fixed After Argentina Win

Egypt was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup on July 7 after a dramatic 3-2 loss to Argentina in the round of 16. Egypt had taken a two-goal lead and seemed poised for a major upset, but reigning champions Argentina mounted a comeback to advance to the quarterfinals. Following the match, Egyptian players expressed outrage over the refereeing, accusing officials of bias and unfair decisions that influenced the outcome.

Egyptian forward Mostafa Ziko was particularly vocal, calling the tournament "fixed from the start" and claiming the referee was against his team from the beginning. He said, "It simply wasn’t a foul. The referee did us a clear and blatant injustice, wasting the effort of an entire nation." Ziko also congratulated Argentina on winning the World Cup, asserting that the result was predetermined and that Argentina did not need to do anything further to secure the title.

Ziko addressed the Egyptian fans, expressing regret that the team could not bring them joy, blaming the referee rather than the players. His comments reflect deep frustration among the Egyptian squad and supporters over the controversial officiating in a high-stakes knockout match.

The 2026 World Cup continues with Argentina moving forward, while Egypt’s unexpected run ends amid accusations of unfair play and tournament manipulation.