The Egypt Football Association (EFA) has reportedly filed a formal complaint with FIFA following Egypt’s controversial exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, demanding an investigation into the officiating during its dramatic 3-2 Round of 16 defeat to defending champions Argentina. The complaint comes after Egypt surrendered a two-goal lead in Atlanta, missing out on what would have been the nation’s first-ever World Cup quarter-final appearance.
According to reports, EFA president Hany Abo Rida has lodged the complaint against French referee Francois Letexier and his officiating team, alleging that several key decisions unfairly influenced the outcome of the knockout clash. The Egyptian football body has also reportedly requested that Letexier and his team be removed from officiating the remainder of the tournament while FIFA reviews the matter.
Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan did not hide his frustration after the final whistle, accusing the match officials of denying his team a fair chance to progress. Speaking after the defeat, Hassan claimed Egypt had been “cheated” out of a place in the quarter-finals and questioned the standard of officiating throughout the match.
The veteran coach alleged that Egypt were denied a clear penalty, with the incident reportedly not reviewed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). Hassan also criticised the decision to disallow what he believed was a legitimate Egyptian goal, arguing that another potential foul involving shirt-pulling also failed to receive a VAR review. He insisted that multiple controversial decisions combined to change the course of the match.
The encounter itself was one of the most dramatic fixtures of the tournament. Egypt stunned Argentina by taking a 2-0 lead, but the defending champions mounted a remarkable comeback led by Lionel Messi, scoring three unanswered goals, including a stoppage-time winner, to book their place in the World Cup quarter-finals.
In an emotional post-match reaction, Hassan said he had lost faith in the fairness of the competition and announced that he would no longer watch the remainder of the FIFA World Cup as a personal protest against what he described as unjust treatment of his team.
As the controversy continues to dominate headlines, attention now turns to FIFA, which is expected to review Egypt’s complaint and determine whether any further action will be taken regarding the officiating. The outcome of the review could have significant implications as the tournament enters its decisive stages.