FIFA World Cup 2026 Advertisement live Updated 35s ago Argentina vs Egypt — LatestLionel Messi starts for Argentina today as their World Cup defence continues with a last-16 tie against Mohamed Salah’s Egypt. Argentina survived an almighty scare last time out, defeating Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time in one of the best games of the tournament. Egypt, meanwhile, overcame Australia on penalties. The winners of today’s match will face either Switzerland or Colombia in the next round, with England or Norway waiting beyond that. On the Argentina benchArgentina substitutes: Musso, Rulli, Senesi, Montiel, Otamendi, Medina, Barco, Lo Celso, Palacios, Gonzalez, Almada, Simeone, Paz, Lopez, Lautaro Martinez. Team news: Two changes for Egypt Egypt make two alterations from their last-32 win over Australia on penalties. Lashin and Hassan replace Fathy and Marmoush. Egypt (4-2-3-1): Shobeir; Hany, Ibrahim, Rabia, Hafez; Ashour, Attia, Lasheen, Hassan; Salah, Zico. Argentina team news: Three changes Argentina make a trio of changes from their last-32 win against Cape Verde. In come Tagliafico, Paredes and Alvarez, out go Medina, Almada and Lautaro Martinez. Argentina (4-4-2): E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, L. Martinez, Tagliafico; De Paul, Paredes, Mac Allister, Fernandez; Messi, Alvarez. Team news on the way Getty ImagesWill the coaches make changes for today's game? We will find out in just a few minutes when the team news lands… Recapping the round of 16 so far Getty ImagesThe last-16 stage of the World Cup wraps up today with this match followed by Switzerland against Colombia later on. So three of the quarter-final ties are already locked in. Morocco beat Canada 3-0 to set up a last-eight meeting with France, who saw off Paraguay 1-0. Norway, who beat Brazil 2-1, will take on England, who knocked out co-holders Mexico 3-2 in a World Cup classic. And Spain's reward for their 1-0 win against Portugal is a quarter-final against Belgium, who beat USMNT 4-1 yesterday. Friends reunited! Getty ImagesSome familiar faces could go up against each other in this game, the most obvious being Egypt talisman Mohamed Salah and Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister. The pair were team-mates at Liverpool for three years, from 2023 until Salah’s departure this summer, and they won the Premier League title together in 2025. Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez also spent a season at Aston Villa alongside Egypt’s Trezeguet, who will make his 100th appearance for his country if he figures today. But it's not all bad news for Egypt Getty ImagesEgypt are undoubtedly underdogs for this game but they also enter it in useful form, having compiled their longest ever World Cup unbeaten run of four matches, with one win and three draws. They have also opened the scoring in the first half of four of their last five World Cup matches. But they have beaten South American opposition just once at the World Cup, defeating Uruguay 1-0 in the 2018 group phase. Form also favours Argentina Getty ImagesTo win today, Egypt will not only need to fight against history but also against their opponents' momentum. Argentina are unbeaten in their last 10 World Cup matches, winning eight and drawing two, equalling their best ever run. They have also won eight successive World Cup matches against African sides, having led at half-time in the last six. And Argentina have won eight of their last 10 World Cup knockout matches, underlining the scale of Egypt's challenge. Head to head: Argentina have two wins from two Getty ImagesThese nations have never met at the World Cup and have played each other only twice before overall with the first meeting dating back 98 years! Argentina won both times, starting with a 6-0 victory in the semi-finals of the 1928 Men’s Olympic Football Tournament and continuing eight decades later with a 2-0 friendly in Cairo in March 2008, with Sergio Aguero and Nicolas Burdisso on the scoresheet. Today's referee Getty ImagesToday’s match will be
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