Argentina
MESSI
Egypt
SALAH
Messi vs Salah — for a quarter-final
The world champions against the Pharaohs. The Golden Boot leader against the man who just made Egyptian history. One of them goes home on Tuesday.
Who goes through to the quarter-finals? 🏆
Tap to vote — results show after you pick
The tie the whole region wanted
There has never been a World Cup meeting like this for Arab football. On one side, Lionel Messi — world champion, captain of the tournament favourites, and at 38 the leader of the Golden Boot race with seven goals, including a vintage hat-trick against Algeria and the killer blow against Jordan. His sixth World Cup keeps looking like a farewell tour with the ending still unwritten.
On the other, Mohamed Salah and an Egypt side nobody has beaten in ninety minutes at this tournament. The Pharaohs held Belgium, came from behind to beat New Zealand with Salah scoring one and creating two, drew with Iran, and then wrote the proudest page in their World Cup story — a first-ever knockout victory, won 4–2 on penalties against Australia with Salah among the flawless takers.
Argentina needed extra time and an own goal to escape Cape Verde. Egypt have made a habit of refusing to lose. Two of the eight Arab nations who started this World Cup are still standing, and on Tuesday one of them gets the chance to knock out the world champions. Kick-off is 16:00 UTC — 7:00 PM in Cairo and Amman — live on beIN SPORTS across the region, with every kick, stat and goal alert on KickD.
🇦🇷 Argentina's road
🇪🇬 Egypt's road
When is Argentina vs Egypt at World Cup 2026?
Tuesday, July 7, 2026 at 16:00 UTC (12:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM in Amman and Cairo) — a Round of 16 single-elimination tie.
What channel is Argentina vs Egypt on?
beIN SPORTS across the Middle East and North Africa, FOX (English) and Telemundo (Spanish) in the USA, and BBC/ITV free-to-air in the UK.
Have Messi and Salah met at a World Cup before?
No — this is the first competitive international meeting between Argentina and Egypt with both superstars on the pitch, and the first Messi vs Salah match at a World Cup.