Argentina vs Egypt in the Round of 16: Scaloni Reshuffles the Side as Salah Promises Trouble in Atlanta
Argentina face Egypt in the 2026 World Cup Round of 16 in Atlanta. Scaloni makes changes after a scare against Cape Verde. Find out the kick-off time and where to watch.
The scare against Cape Verde is still ringing in their ears — and Argentina knows it cannot afford to repeat the script.
This Tuesday, July 7, Scaloni's Albiceleste face Mohamed Salah's Egypt in the 2026 World Cup Round of 16 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Kick-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. (Buenos Aires time). Those watching from Brazil should check the time-zone difference.
The world champions reached this stage with their hearts in their mouths: they needed extra time to edge Cape Verde 3–2, in a match that exposed vulnerabilities but also confirmed that the players who left the pitch with knocks did not suffer serious injuries. Scaloni has already signalled he will make changes to the starting line-up — the question is who comes in.
On the other side, the Pharaohs arrive in good form. Egypt eliminated Australia on penalties and carry the confidence of a side that knows it can cause an upset. With Salah as their focal point, this is not a team to be taken lightly.
The match has an added ingredient: the referee will be Frenchman François Letexier, who recently found himself at the centre of controversy in the Champions League. In a knockout game, any decision can become the talking point.
Golmetria's model gives Argentina an 87% chance of advancing to the quarter-finals — but World Cup Round of 16 matches rarely respect probabilities. The market, for its part, is more cautious: the implied odds for an Argentine title sit at around 9%, well below the 21% the model projects.
Messi and company want more. The question is whether Egypt will let them have it.