Argentina face Egypt in the Football World Cup in 2026 Round of 16 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Tuesday, July 7, with a 12 p.m. ET kick-off, in a historic clash between the reigning world champions and an Egyptian side making their first-ever appearance in the last 16.
This blog covers the Argentina vs Egypt Football World Cup in 2026 kick-off time, team news, squad lists, tactical breakdown, how to watch live, and everything else you need to know.
Key Details
- Date: Tuesday, July 7, 2026
- Kick-off Time: 12 p.m. ET / 9 a.m. PT / 5 p.m. BST / 7 p.m. Egypt Standard Time / 1 p.m. Argentina Standard Time
- Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta Stadium), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Where to Watch: FOX / Telemundo / Peacock (USA) | ITV1 / ITVX / BBC iPlayer (UK) | SBS (Australia) | beIN Sports (Egypt / Middle East) | TyC Sports / TyC Sports Play (Argentina) | Zee5 (India)
Where to Watch Argentina vs. Egypt Football World Cup Match?
In the USA, the Argentina vs Egypt game airs on FOX and Telemundo in English and Spanish, with streaming available on Peacock. In the UK, coverage is split between ITV1, ITVX, and BBC iPlayer, all free to air and accessible without a subscription.
Australia viewers can catch the match on SBS for free. Egyptian and regional Middle Eastern audiences can watch on beIN Sports, while Argentine fans are covered by TyC Sports and TyC Sports Play. Peacock in the USA offers the full Spanish-language broadcast stream of every 2026 World Cup match.
How to Watch Argentina vs. Egypt with a VPN
If the match is unavailable in your region, a VPN unlocks free access to ITVX, which broadcasts the game free to air in the UK. ITVX is geoblocked to UK-based IP addresses, meaning viewers outside the UK need a VPN to access the stream.
Here is how to do it:
- Sign up for PureVPN and install the app on your device.
- Connect to a UK server to obtain a British IP address.
- Visit ITVX and sign in or create a free account.
- Search for Argentina vs Egypt and start streaming live.
Please note that using a VPN may be subject to the terms and conditions of the streaming platform. Always check local laws and broadcaster guidelines before using a VPN to access geo-restricted content.
Argentina vs. Egypt Football World Cup in 2026 Team News
Argentina Team News
Lionel Scaloni has managed Argentina since 2018 and guided the nation to three consecutive major trophies: the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 World Cup, and the 2024 Copa América. His preferred system is a flexible 4-3-3 that can drop into a back five, built around the engine of Enzo Fernández, Rodrigo De Paul, and Alexis Mac Allister in midfield.
Argentina went unbeaten through Group J, dispatching Algeria 3-0, Austria 2-0, and Jordan 3-1 before Messi opened the scoring against Cape Verde. The 3-2 extra-time win in Miami Gardens was a genuine scare, and Scaloni publicly expressed frustration with the World Cup scheduling that gave both finalists minimal recovery time before the Round of 16.
Heading into the Egypt clash, Nicolás González and Facundo Medina carried minor knocks. Captain Lionel Messi, who turned 39 during the tournament, played the full 120 minutes against Cape Verde and admitted fatigue after the game but has scored in every fixture. Emiliano Martínez starts in goal, backed by a defensive line of Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, and Nicolás Tagliafico.
Egypt Team News
Hossam Hassan, Egypt’s all-time leading scorer and a legendary figure in African football history, was appointed head coach in February 2024. The 59-year-old twin brother of team director Ibrahim Hassan oversaw Egypt’s qualification and arrived in North America fresh from a semi-final run at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Egypt drew 1-1 with Belgium in the Group G opener, beat New Zealand, and drew with Iran to finish second on five points. They then defeated Australia 4-2 on penalties in the Round of 32, with Emam Ashour heading Egypt ahead before an own goal levelled in the second half. It was the first World Cup knockout victory in Egyptian football history.
Hassan deploys a compact 4-2-3-1, with Mohamed Salah shifted centrally behind striker Omar Marmoush rather than out wide. Salah entered the Australia match carrying a hamstring concern and at times appeared reluctant to sprint at full speed. Ahmed Fatouh and Mohamed Abdelmoneim were confirmed absent for the Argentina game through injury, while Salah’s fitness remains a closely watched concern.
Argentina World Cup Squad
- Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martínez, Gerónimo Rulli, Juan Musso
- Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel, Nahuel Molina, Lisandro Martínez, Nicolás Otamendi, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Tagliafico, Facundo Medina, Marcos Senesi
- Midfielders: Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul, Valentín Barco, Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister
- Forwards: Lionel Messi, Nicolás González, Giuliano Simeone, Lautaro Martínez, José Manuel López, Julián Álvarez, Thiago Almada, Nico Paz
Egypt World Cup Squad
- Goalkeepers: Mohamed El-Shenawy, El Mahdy Soliman, Mostafa Shobeir, Mohamed Alaa
- Defenders: Yasser Ibrahim, Mohamed Hany, Hossam Abdelmaguid, Ramy Rabia, Mohamed Abdelmonem, Ahmed Fatouh, Karim Hafez, Tarek Alaa
- Midfielders: Emam Ashour, Mostafa Zico, Hamdy Fathy, Mohanad Lasheen, Nabil Emad, Marwan Attia, Mahmoud Saber
- Forwards: Trezeguet, Hamza Abdelkarim, Mohamed Salah, Haissem Hassan, Ibrahim Adel, Omar Marmoush, Zizo
Argentina vs. Egypt Match Preview
Argentina and Egypt meet at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on July 7 in a World Cup Round of 16 tie that carries the weight of history for both sides. The defending champions enter as heavy favourites at 69.1 percent probability of winning in regulation, per the Opta supercomputer, while Egypt at 12.3 percent represent one of the longest shots remaining in the knockout draw.
Argentina’s dominance of the group stage was near flawless, but Cape Verde exposed a vulnerability when Argentina played without pressing intensity. Messi himself noted the team struggled to press high, and Egypt, who are built to absorb pressure and strike on the counter, could look to exploit the same space. The 39-year-old captain has scored in all four games so far, now at 20 World Cup goals, an outright all-time record, and pulling level at the top of the Golden Boot alongside Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland.
Egypt’s ambition extends beyond survival. A win would make them only the fifth African nation to reach a World Cup quarterfinal, following Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002, Ghana in 2010, and Morocco in 2022. The winner faces either Switzerland or Colombia in Kansas City on July 11.
Tactical Outlook: Scaloni is expected to line up in his 4-3-3 with De Paul, Mac Allister, and Fernández anchoring midfield and Messi and Lautaro Martínez as the primary attacking threats. Egypt will set up in their 4-2-3-1 with a deep defensive block, relying on Salah’s creative movement in the number 10 role to orchestrate counterattacks and Marmoush to provide the cutting edge. The key tactical duel is between Salah’s ability to find pockets of space and Argentina’s midfield trio’s capacity to close him down before he can turn. If Argentina score early, Egypt’s game plan collapses. If Egypt keep it goalless past the hour, penalties become a real threat.
Football World Cup in 2026 Match Schedule
| Date | Day | Match |
|---|---|---|
| July 7, 2026 | Tuesday | Argentina vs. Egypt (Round of 16, Atlanta) |
| July 7, 2026 | Tuesday | Portugal vs. Spain (Round of 16, Dallas) |
| July 7, 2026 | Tuesday | USA vs. Belgium (Round of 16, Seattle) |
| July 8, 2026 | Wednesday | Colombia vs. Switzerland (Round of 16, Kansas City) |
| July 8, 2026 | Wednesday | France vs. Morocco (Round of 16, Houston) |
| July 8, 2026 | Wednesday | England vs. Norway (Round of 16, New York) |
| July 9, 2026 | Thursday | Germany vs. Netherlands (Round of 16, Los Angeles) |
| July 9, 2026 | Thursday | Japan vs. Senegal (Round of 16, Dallas) |
| July 11, 2026 | Saturday | Quarterfinal 1 (Kansas City) |
| July 11, 2026 | Saturday | Quarterfinal 2 (Atlanta) |
| July 12, 2026 | Sunday | Quarterfinal 3 (Los Angeles) |
| July 12, 2026 | Sunday | Quarterfinal 4 (New York) |
2026 Football World Cup Preview
This year’s 2026 Football World Cup is shaping up to be the most ambitious and expansive edition of football’s grandest stage. The 23rd edition of the tournament will be held from June 11 to July 19, jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
For the first time ever, three nations are co-hosting the Football World Cup; a milestone that reflects both the scale of the event and the growing global footprint of the beautiful game.
2026 Football World Cup Format Explained: 48 Nations, 104 Matches
An expanded Football World Cup will feature 48 teams, 16 more than in Qatar 2022, and take place across three host nations for the first time. This expansion fundamentally changes the tournament’s structure.
The competition consists of 12 groups of four teams, with each team playing three matches in their respective groups. The top two teams from each group and the eight best third-placed teams across the tournament advance to the knockout Round of 32.
With 32 teams advancing, the knockout stage now includes a Round of 32, a Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final, meaning there will be 104 matches in total, 40 more than in Qatar. As a result, this Football World Cup lasts 39 days instead of the roughly 32 days of previous tournaments.
16 Host Cities Across 3 Nations in the 2026 Football World Cup
There are 16 host cities in total, with 11 in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada.
The cities where games take place include Toronto and Vancouver in Canada; Monterrey, Mexico City, and Guadalajara in Mexico; and San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Boston, Philadelphia, Miami, and New York/New Jersey in the United States.
The opening match was especially historic. The tournament kicked off at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, where Mexico faced South Africa, making it one of the most iconic venues in Football World Cup history and the first stadium to host games at three different men’s Football World Cups.
The final is set for an equally iconic setting. The knockout stage will conclude with the final, to be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 19.
The Stars to Watch in the 2026 Football World Cup
The 2026 Football World Cup features a massive mix of established superstars and next-generation talent. Here are the names central to the tournament conversation:
Established Legends
- Lionel Messi — Argentina’s captain, widely expected to play his final Football World Cup
- Cristiano Ronaldo — Portugal’s all-time icon, also likely bowing out on the biggest stage
Elite Europeans
- Kylian Mbappé — France’s generational superstar and title favourite
- Erling Haaland — Norway’s goal machine making his Football World Cup debut
- Jude Bellingham — England’s midfield engine and creative force
- Jamal Musiala — Germany’s technically gifted young star
- Lamine Yamal — Spain’s teenage sensation
- Harry Kane — England’s all-time top scorer hunting major honours
South American Powerhouses
- Vinícius Júnior — Brazil’s electric winger and Ballon d’Or contender
- Federico Valverde — Uruguay’s tireless and technically brilliant midfielder
North American Heroes
- Alphonso Davies — Canada’s captain and fan favourite on home soil
- Christian Pulisic — The face of US soccer playing in front of a home crowd
African Star
- Mohamed Salah — Egypt’s legendary forward bringing vast club experience to the global stage
For Messi and Ronaldo, this will likely be their final Football World Cups, giving the tournament an unmistakably emotional dimension as two of the greatest players in football history bow out on the grandest stage.
2026 Football World Cup Knockout Stage: The Road to the Final
The knockout stage of the 2026 Football World Cup is the second and final stage of the competition, played from June 28 to July 19, 2026. The top two teams from each of the twelve groups, along with the best eight third-place teams, have advanced to compete in a single-elimination tournament.
The 2026 World Cup is ready to enter its knockout stage. Here's how the tournament's next phase differs from the group stage. https://t.co/ZUtq2tVWQo
— USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) June 28, 2026
Football World Cup 2026 Knockout Stage Schedule
| Date | Round | Match |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, July 6 | Round of 16 | Portugal vs. Spain |
| Monday, July 6 | Round of 16 | USA vs. Belgium |
| Tuesday, July 7 | Round of 16 | Argentina vs. Egypt |
| Tuesday, July 7 | Round of 16 | Switzerland vs. Colombia |
| Thursday, July 9 | Quarter-final | France vs. Morocco |
| Friday, July 10 | Quarter-final | Winner of Portugal vs. Spain vs. Winner of USA vs. Belgium |
| Saturday, July 11 | Quarter-final | Norway vs. England |
| Sunday, July 12 | Quarter-final | Winner of Argentina vs. Egypt vs. Winner of Switzerland vs. Colombia |
⚽ FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 Fixtures ⚽
— World of StatHistics (@Stat_Cult) June 28, 2026
🗓️ Sunday, June 28
🇿🇦 South Africa – Canada 🇨🇦 →
🏟️ Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi)
🗓️ Monday, June 29
🔥 🇧🇷 Brazil – Japan 🇯🇵 →
🏟️ Houston Stadium (NRG)
🇩🇪 Germany – Paraguay 🇵🇾 →
🏟️ Boston Stadium (Gillette)
🇳🇱 Netherlands –… pic.twitter.com/Upoc5irwla
2026 Football World Cup Host Stadiums
| Stadium Name | Host City | Location | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto Stadium | Toronto | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | 45,000 |
| BC Place Vancouver | Vancouver | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | 54,000 |
| Estadio Azteca | Mexico City | Mexico City, Mexico | 83,000 |
| Estadio Guadalajara | Guadalajara | Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico | 48,000 |
| Estadio Monterrey | Monterrey | Guadalupe, Nuevo León, Mexico | 53,500 |
| Atlanta Stadium | Atlanta | Atlanta, Georgia, USA | 75,000 |
| Boston Stadium | Boston | Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA | 65,000 |
| Dallas Stadium | Dallas | Arlington, Texas, USA | 94,000 |
| NRG Stadium | Houston | Houston, Texas, USA | 72,000 |
| Kansas City Stadium | Kansas City | Kansas City, Missouri, USA | 73,000 |
| Los Angeles Stadium | Los Angeles | Inglewood, California, USA | 70,000 |
| Miami Stadium | Miami | Miami Gardens, Florida, USA | 65,000 |
| MetLife Stadium | New York/New Jersey | East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA | 82,500 |
| Philadelphia Stadium | Philadelphia | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA | 69,000 |
| San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (Levi’s Stadium) | San Francisco Bay Area | Santa Clara, California, USA | 71,000 |
| Seattle Stadium | Seattle | Seattle, Washington, USA | 69,000 |
Mexico has 3 stadiums like this and still got just 13 matches to host and USA is hosting 78 matches.
— Rahul Raj (@RahulRajVerse) June 28, 2026
Mexico is definitely Robbed😢😭 pic.twitter.com/HMyhQJ1Xhk
Prize Money and Commercial Scale of the 2026 Football World Cup
The prize money for this Football World Cup was confirmed at an official meeting in Doha. The prize fund is up 50 per cent on that of the 2022 Football World Cup in Qatar, and each team also receives $1.5m to cover preparation costs, meaning every team is guaranteed at least $10.5m.
The United States last hosted the men’s Football World Cup in 1994, and that tournament still holds the record as the most attended Football World Cup with 3.6 million fans. That record will certainly be shattered in 2026 with fans entering turnstiles in three countries.
2026 Football World Cup Official Broadcasters
| Country/Region | Broadcaster(s) |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan | ATN |
| Albania | TV Klan |
| Algeria | ENTV |
| Andorra | RTVE, M6, Mediapro/DAZN |
| Angola | Z Sports |
| Argentina | Telefe, TV Pública, TyC Sports |
| Armenia | Fast Sports |
| Aruba | Telearuba |
| Australia | SBS |
| Austria | ORF, ServusTV, Magenta Sport |
| Azerbaijan | İTV |
| Bangladesh | TBA |
| Belize | Nexgen |
| Belgium | VRT, RTBF |
| Bolivia | Red Uno, Unitel, Entel, Tigo Sports |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Arena Sport |
| Brazil | Grupo Globo, CazéTV, SBT/N Sports |
| Brunei | TBA |
| Bulgaria | BNT |
| Cambodia | Hang Meas |
| Canada | Bell Media |
| Caribbean | Rush Sports |
| Chile | Chilevisión |
| China | CCTV, Migu, Xiaohongshu |
| Colombia | Caracol, RCN, Win Sports |
| Costa Rica | Teletica, Tigo Sports |
| Croatia | HRT |
| Curaçao | Nos Pais Television |
| Cyprus | Sigma TV |
| Czechia | ČT, TV Nova |
| Denmark | DR, TV2 |
| Dominican Republic | CDN 37, Pio Deportes |
| Ecuador | Teleamazonas |
| El Salvador | TCS, Tigo Sports |
| Estonia | TV3 Estonia, ERR |
| Ethiopia | Hagerie TV |
| Fiji | FBC |
| Finland | Yle, MTV3 |
| France (Metropolitan) | M6, beIN Sports |
| France (Ultramarine) | Antenne Réunion, La 1ère |
| Georgia | Setanta Sports, Rustavi 2 |
| Germany | ARD, ZDF, Magenta Sport |
| Ghana | ChannelOne TV |
| Greece | ERT |
| Guatemala | Albavisión, Tigo Sports |
| Haiti | TNH |
| Honduras | Televicentro, Tigo Sports |
| Hong Kong | PCCW |
| Hungary | MTVA |
| Iceland | RÚV |
| India | Unite8 Sports (Zee) |
| Indonesia | TVRI, FolaPlay, Telkomsel |
| Ireland | RTÉ |
| Israel | KAN, Charlton |
| Italy | RAI, DAZN |
| Ivory Coast | RTI, NCI |
| Jamaica | TVJ |
| Japan | NHK, Nippon TV, Fuji TV, DAZN |
| Kazakhstan | QAZTRK |
| Kenya | Azam TV |
| Kosovo | RTK, TV Vala, Arena Sport |
| Kyrgyzstan | KTRK, Beeline Ukmush TV |
| Laos | TBA |
| Latvia | TV3 Latvia |
| Liechtenstein | SRG SSR |
| Lithuania | TV3 Lithuania |
| Luxembourg | RTBF, M6, ARD, ZDF |
| Macau | TDM |
| Malawi | Azam TV |
| Malaysia | RTM, Unifi TV |
| Maldives | ICE Networks |
| Malta | Television Malta |
| Mauritius | MBC |
| Mexico | TelevisaUnivision, TV Azteca |
| MENA | beIN Sports |
| Mongolia | EduTV, National Television, Suld TV, MNB, Mobihome VOO |
| Montenegro | RTCG, Arena Sport |
| Morocco | SNRT |
| Mozambique | Miramar, Z Sports |
| Myanmar | TBA |
| Nepal | Himalaya Sports, Dgo |
| Netherlands | NOS |
| New Zealand | TVNZ |
| Nicaragua | Grupo Ratensa, Tigo Sports |
| North Macedonia | Arena Sport |
| Norway | NRK, TV2 |
| Pakistan | PTV Sports, Tapmad |
| Panama | RPC/COS, TVN Media, Tigo Sports |
| Paraguay | Trece, GEN TV |
| Peru | América Televisión |
| Philippines | Aleph Arena, TAP DMV, Cignal PPV |
| Poland | TVP |
| Portugal | Sport TV, RTP, SIC, TVI, LiveModeTV |
| Romania | Antena |
| Russia | Match TV |
| Rwanda | Azam TV |
| Saint Lucia | Winners Sports TV |
| San Marino | RAI, DAZN |
| Senegal | RTS |
| Serbia | PTC, Arena Sport |
| Singapore | Mediacorp |
| Slovakia | RTVS, TV JOJ |
| Slovenia | RTV SLO, Arena Sport |
| South Africa | SABC, SportyTV |
| South America | DSports, Disney+ |
| South Korea | JTBC, KBS, NAVER Sports, CHZZK |
| Spain | RTVE, Mediapro/DAZN |
| Sri Lanka | TBA |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | New World TV, SuperSport |
| Suriname | STVS, ATV |
| Sweden | SVT, TV4 |
| Switzerland | SRG SSR |
| Taiwan | ELTA, EBC, TTV |
| Tajikistan | Varzish TV |
| Tanzania | Azam TV |
| Thailand | TBA |
| Timor-Leste | RTTL, ETO |
| Turkey | TRT |
| Turkmenistan | Quest Sports Media |
| Uganda | Azam TV |
| Ukraine | MEGOGO |
| United Kingdom | STV (Central & Northern Scotland), BBC, ITV |
| United States | Fox Sports (English), Telemundo (Spanish) |
| Uruguay | Canal 5, Antel TV |
| Uzbekistan | Zo’r TV |
| Vanuatu | VBTC |
| Venezuela | Televen |
| Vietnam | VTV |
| Zambia | Azam TV |
| Zimbabwe | Azam TV |
2026 Football World Cup: A Tournament for the Ages
This year’s 2026 Football World Cup is more than a football tournament; it is a cultural event spanning an entire continent. The tournament is expected to be the largest Football World Cup ever by both attendance and scale, and is also expected to expand the reach of football across North America.
With legendary players potentially playing their last Football World Cups, host nations hungry for glory, and a brand-new format delivering more football than ever before, the summer of 2026 promises to be utterly unforgettable for fans around the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
The match takes place on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Kick-off is at 12 p.m. ET (5 p.m. BST / 7 p.m. Egypt Standard Time).
Argentina topped Group J with a perfect nine points, beating Algeria, Austria, and Jordan. Egypt finished second in Group G with five points, behind Belgium, after drawing with Belgium and Iran and beating New Zealand.
Argentina beat Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time in the Round of 32, having beaten Algeria 3-0, Austria 2-0, and Jordan 3-1 in the group stage. They have won five consecutive matches across all competitions.
Emam Ashour leads Egypt’s scoring at the tournament with two goals, but Mohamed Salah is the primary creative force, deployed centrally as a number 10 by coach Hossam Hassan. Omar Marmoush of Manchester City operates as the main striker.
This is the first World Cup meeting between the two nations. Their only previous encounter was a friendly in Cairo in March 2008, which Argentina won 2-0.
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