Argentina vs Egypt Preview: Team News & Prediction | FIFA World Cup 2026 | Round of 16
Reigning world champions Argentina overcame a major scare in the Round of 16 as they now take on Egypt, who are enjoying their best ever FIFA World Cup.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – ITV / USA – FOX Sports
How to watch online: UK – ITVX / USA – FOX One
Argentina preview: Defending their title
In Miami, Argentina came up against debutant minnows Cabo Verde and found it tough from the off, taking about half an hour to break them down with a goal from Lionel Messi. Cabo Verde showed their now trademark resolve, though, to equalise early on in the second half to restore parity.
Remarkably. one of the biggest mis-matches in the history of FIFA World Cup knockout football went into extra-time. Argentina took a 2-1 lead via Lisandro Martinez but Sidny Lopes Cabral produced a magnificent finish to equalise for the Cabo Verdeans once again. Then, in the second half of extra-time, the Argentinians managed to edge through with a Lionel Messi corner being turned in by Diney, amid pressure from Cristian Romero.
Egypt preview: Making history
Egypt didn’t have it any less stressful than the Argentinians in their Round of 16 tie, but the Pharaohs managed to win a knockout match at the FIFA World Cup for the first time ever, defeating Australia on penalties.
Their 1-1 draw with the Socceroos in Dallas was followed by a 4-2 shootout win as they became the second African team to make into the Round of 16 at FIFA World Cup 2026, having recorded their first FIFA World Cup win in the group stages with a come-from-behind defeat of New Zealand.
Argentina team news: Alvarez could come in
Further team news will appear here closer to the match and then again after pre-match press conferences…
Lautaro Martinez has been the preferred option to Julian Alvarez this summer but the Inter Milan striker has struggled for consistency and so Alvarez, off the back of a mediocre club campaign (by his standards) and with his own declaration of wanting to depart Atletico Madrid, could start this quarter-final.
There doesn't appear to be any injury issues with Gonzalo Montiel now back to full fitness alongside Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Cristian Romero.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Li. Martinez, Medina; De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernandez, Almada; Messi, Alvarez
Unavailable:
Questionable:
Egypt team news: A few issues
Further team news will appear here closer to the match and then again after pre-match press conferences…
Central midfielder Mohammad Lasheen has returned from suspension but both Mohamed Abdelmonem and Ahmed Fatouh remain doubtful due to injury.
As well as that, right-back Mohamad Hany has to be viewed as a doubt after seemingly being knocked out against Australia in the second half but then continuing to play - prior to scoring his second own goal of the tournament.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Shobeir; Hany, Ibrahim, Rabia, Hafez; Ashour, Fathy, Attia, Ziko; Salah, Marmoush
Unavailable:
Questionable: Abdelmonem (Injured), Hany (Concussion), Fatouh (Injured)
Argentina’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Emiliano Martinez ($5.0m) – Goalkeeper
Lisandro Martinez ($4.6m) – Defender
Lionel Messi ($10.0m) – Forward
Matchday 5 captain pick: Lionel Messi
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Lionel Messi
Free kicks: Lionel Messi
Corners: Lionel Messi, Nico Paz
Egypt’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Mohamed Salah ($10.0m) – Midfielder
Emam Ashour ($4.6m) – Midfielder
Mostafa Zico ($4.2m) – Midfielder
Matchday 5 captain pick: Mohamed Salah
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Mohamed Salah
Free kicks: Mohamed Salah
Corners: Mohamed Salah
Key stats
- Argentina have won both meetings between the teams. They recorded a 6-0 victory in the semi-finals of the 1928 Men’s Olympic Football Tournament and triumphed 2-0 in a March 2008 friendly in Cairo.
- Argentina are unbeaten in their last ten FIFA World Cup matches (W8 D2), equalling their best-ever sequence.
- Argentina have won eight successive FIFA World Cup matches against African sides. They were ahead at half-time in the last six of those encounters.
- Argentina have won eight of their last ten knockout matches at the World Cup.
- Argentina have played extra time at the World Cup a record-equalling 12 times (tied with Germany), prevailing in ten of those encounters.
- Against Cabo Verde, Lionel Messi became the first player to reach the milestone of 30 appearances in FIFA World Cup history and also the first to 20 goals.
- Lionel Messi has scored in a record-extending eight successive fixtures at the FIFA World Cup.
- Lionel Messi has scored in five successive knockout-round matches dating back to 2022.
- The penalty shoot-out victory over Australia was Egypt’s first success in a World Cup knockout match.
- Egypt have now opened the scoring in the first half in four of their last five World Cup encounters.
- Trézéguet could make his 100th international appearance for Egypt.
- Two of Mohamed Salah’s 68 international goals have come against South American opposition – both in friendly defeats against Chile (1-2 in Madrid in February 2013; 2-3 in Santiago in May 2014).
- Lionel Messi has scored seven goals at the FIFA World Cup against African teams, including a hat-trick in Argentina’s opening 3-0 win vs Algeria at this tournament, and the opener in the round of 32 victory against Cabo Verde.
Click here for EVEN MORE stats & facts about this fixture!
Argentina vs Egypt prediction
Argentina were impressive in the group stage with the South Americans easing to three wins from three against Algeria, Austria and Jordan, beginning the defence of their world title in ominous form.
There will be major concern about the way in which they struggled to batter down the Cabo Verdean door to avoid playing an extra 30 minutes and there is a reliance on captain Lionel Messi - who does now have seven goals already this summer.
That said, this remains a fairly one-sided game on paper and one in which the Argentinians should come out on top as they set up a quarter-final against either Switzerland or Colombia.
Argentina vs Egypt betting tip: Argentina to win with -1 handicap
