Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan launched a furious attack on the officiating after his side surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 to Argentina in the Round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday.

The Pharaohs looked set to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in their history after taking a commanding 2-0 lead, but the defending champions produced a remarkable comeback to snatch victory in dramatic fashion.

Speaking after the match, Hassan insisted Egypt had been denied a fair result, claiming key refereeing decisions went against his team.

“I do not want to put it nicely and talk about hard luck. We have been cheated unfairly today, we have suffered injustice,” Hassan said in an explosive press conference.

The controversy began in the first half when a goal from Mostafa Zico was ruled out after a VAR review identified a foul on Lisandro Martinez earlier in the attacking move.

Zico later found the net again to double Egypt’s advantage after they had taken the lead.

Argentina, however, responded in the second half. Cristian Romero pulled one back before Lionel Messi, who had earlier seen a penalty saved, levelled the score with his eighth goal of the tournament.

Enzo Fernandez then completed the turnaround with the winning goal, although Egypt were left incensed after appeals for a penalty in the build-up were waved away.

The Egyptians believed Alexis Mac Allister had fouled Hamdy Fathy by pulling his shirt inside the box, but neither the referee nor VAR intervened.

“We haven’t seen respect or fair play. There has not been respect or fair play,” Hassan said.

“A penalty was ruled out, was not even checked by VAR. A second goal was remarkably disallowed. There has not even been a VAR check when we have all seen the image of the (shirt) being pulled back.”

The Egypt boss admitted the defeat had left him so disillusioned that he no longer intended to watch the remainder of the tournament.

“I am not going to continue following the matches of this World Cup, watching the matches of this World Cup,” he added.

“This is my own way of speaking up.”