Argentina’s Winning Goal Against Egypt Should’ve Been Disallowed, Says Ian Wright

Former England striker Ian Wright has claimed Argentina’s late winning goal against Egypt in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup should have been disallowed.

He argued that Mohamed Salah was fouled in the build-up.

Wright made the remarks while analysing Argentina’s dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Egypt, insisting the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) should have reviewed the incident in the same manner it reviewed and disallowed Mostafa Ziko’s earlier goal.

Speaking on ITV Sport, Wright said the officiating lacked consistency.

“That’s what’s happening with VAR now, they’re pulling it back. If you’re going to pull it back for Argentina on the edge of the box to disallow a goal, you have to pull it back for this one with Mo Salah.

“He’s been caught. Whatever we say, it might be minimal, he’s been caught and then they go up the other end,” he said, according to the Daily Mirror.

The encounter was overshadowed by controversial refereeing decisions.

In the 58th minute, Ziko’s goal was ruled out following a VAR review for a foul on Argentina defender Lisandro Martinez during the build-up.

However, Egypt were left frustrated after Salah appeared to be brought down by Julian Alvarez before Argentina launched the move that ended with Enzo Fernandez heading home the winner in stoppage time.

Despite Egypt’s protests, both the referee and VAR allowed the goal to stand.

Egypt had looked on course for the quarter-finals after Yasser Ibrahim opened the scoring in the 15th minute before Ziko doubled the advantage. Argentina, however, mounted a late comeback through Cristian Romero and Lionel Messi before Fernandez struck the decisive goal in the 90+2nd minute.

Following the match, Egypt forward Mostafa Ziko launched a scathing attack on French referee Francois Letexier, alleging the tournament had been manipulated in Argentina’s favour.

“Congratulations to Argentina on the World Cup; the tournament was rigged, they didn’t need anything else. The referee was unfair, unfair, unfair, unfair,” Ziko said, according to The Touchline.

The Egyptian forward also maintained that his disallowed goal and the incidents leading to Argentina’s winner reflected inconsistent officiating.

The victory sent Lionel Messi and Argentina into the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.