Argentina and Egypt are set to clash in a highly anticipated World Cup 2026 Round of 16 fixture. This exciting encounter kicks off on Tuesday, 07 July at 5 PM ( BST) in Atlanta.
Defending champions Argentina boast a perfect World Cup 2026 record so far. Egypt, having just made history with their first knockout stage victory, looks to challenge them. Our prediction for Argentina vs. Egypt anticipates a competitive match.
Find out where to watch the match and what our expert predictions are, as well as the expected lineups for today’s encounter.
Match Overview - Argentina vs. Egypt
- Argentina holds a perfect record in the World Cup, winning all four matches. The defending champions aim to extend their dominant run in the competition.
- Egypt enters this round of 16 with high confidence after a historic penalty shootout win against Australia. This marked their first-ever knockout stage victory in the tournament.
- With two prior head-to-head encounters, one that happened a long time ago, and the other played in 2008 (Argentina won in both), this fixture is new territory for both sides. It presents a classic knockout scenario: a tournament favourite against a history-making team.
Head-to-Head Record
- This will be the third meeting between the teams, but we can confidently say that it’s almost as if it were the first one.
- Argentina come into this match on an impressive winning streak, having won their last 11 games.
- Egypt are unbeaten in the World Cup 2026, with two wins and two draws in their four matches so far.
- Argentina’s World Cup matches have averaged 3.0 total goals (scored + conceded).
- Argentina: Lionel Messi is in sensational form, having scored 7 goals in his 4 appearances in the tournament.
- Egypt: Mohamed Salah has been a key playmaker, directly involved in three goals with one goal and two assists.
Argentina Preview: Can the champions continue their dominant run?
Argentina enters this knockout match with an impressive 11-game winning streak. The defending champions have been flawless in the World Cup 2026, winning all three group stage matches, including a 3-2 victory over Cape Verde in the round of 32. Their attack has been notably potent.
Lionel Messi leads the charge, showcasing sensational goalscoring form with seven goals in four appearances. His game-deciding ability remains a crucial factor for the team.
With only Balerdi absent, Argentina won’t have major concerns about their lineup in this match. The combination of team chemistry, recent success, and Messi’s brilliance gives them a clear advantage to advance.
Egypt Preview: Can the Pharaohs cause an upset?
Egypt are flying high after their historic penalty shootout win against Australia. This marked their first ever World Cup knockout victory. They are unbeaten in the tournament, with two wins and two draws, showcasing their resilience.
Mohamed Salah leads their attack, having been involved in three goals with one goal and two assists. Emam Ashour has also been a key figure, scoring twice from midfield and providing a consistent goal threat for the team.
The squad has no major injury worries (only Fatouh’s appearance being questionable), which is a significant boost ahead of this tough fixture. Their defensive organisation and recent form suggest they can make this a difficult match.
Argentina vs. Egypt Prediction: Champions to continue their run
Argentina enters this clash in formidable form, riding a nine-game winning streak and scoring freely throughout the tournament. Their attacking quality suggests they could win by two or more goals against a resilient but outmatched Egyptian side.
Egypt made history by reaching the round of 16, but they now face their toughest test against the world champions. Argentina will likely aim to dominate from the start, making the prospect of them winning at half-time a strong possibility.
Considering Argentina’s overwhelming momentum and Lionel Messi’s sensational form, their victory seems the most probable outcome. Therefore, our main prediction is for Argentina to win the match in normal time and advance to the quarter-finals.
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| Asian Handicap | Argentina to win by two or more goals | |
| Money Line | Argentina to be winning at half-time | |
The odds mentioned were collected during the writing of this prediction and may change. Always check with the bookmaker for the latest information.
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| Asian Handicap | Argentina to win by two or more goals | |
| Money Line | Argentina to be winning at half-time | |
Where to Watch Argentina vs. Egypt
Here’s where you can watch Argentina vs. Egypt live:
- TV: ITV 1 (Gbr), ITV X (Gbr), UTV (Gbr), STV (Gbr)
- Streaming: STV Player (Gbr)
Argentina vs. Egypt Predicted Lineups
As this crucial knockout stage match of the World Cup 2026 draws near, both teams’ strategies will be vital. The probable Argentina lineup suggests a clear intention to dictate the game’s tempo from the outset. Meanwhile, the expected Egypt lineup appears crafted to establish a balanced and robust team structure on the field. Analyzing these potential starting XIs provides valuable insight into how each side plans to secure an advantage in this important fixture.
Argentina
Martínez; Romero, Martínez Li., Molina, Tagliafico; De Paul, Fernández, Mac Allister, Paredes; Álvarez, Messi.
Manager: Lionel Scaloni.
Egypt
Shobeir; Hany, Rabia, Ibrahim, Hafez; Ashour, Attia, Fathy, Salah, Ziko; Marmoush.
Manager: Hossam Hassan.
Match Details
Here are the match details:
- Match: Argentina vs. Egypt
- Competition: World Cup 2026
- Date: 07/07/2026
- Kick-off: 5 PM (BST)
- Broadcast: STV Player (Gbr), STV (Gbr),, ITV 1 (Gbr), UTV (Gbr), ITV X (Gbr)
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