Argentina braces for Egypt clash, Musso vows family unity in World Cup

Argentina faced Egypt at 16:00 on Tuesday in Atlanta in a round-of-16 match that carried the strain of a title defense. Lionel Scaloni’s side reached the tie after a 3-2 extra-time escape against Cabo Verde, while Egypt advanced by beating Australia 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

Juan Musso, the reserve goalkeeper included in Scaloni’s official prelist sent to FIFA for the 2026 World Cup, framed the knockout run as a family duty rather than a role limited to the starters. His message was that no matter who stands across from Argentina, the group puts the same shield in front of the badge and plays for victory together. That mindset mattered because Argentina had already needed a late surge to survive its previous test, and because a team defending a world title cannot afford to treat any opponent as routine.

The pressure around the matchup was sharpened by the path to it. FIFA noted that Argentina had reached the round of 16 at every World Cup since 2002, a streak that underscored how often the Albiceleste has found a way to clear the first knockout hurdle. The 2026 tournament, the 23rd World Cup and the first played with 48 teams across Canada, Mexico and the United States, has already demanded the same resilience from both established powers and fast-rising challengers.

Argentina’s previous round was no exception. AFA described the win over Cabo Verde as an “incredible 3-2” settled in the 120 minutes, after José Maria Neves, Cabo Verde’s president, had backed his players by saying they would go into the match “sin ningún miedo.” Egypt’s own route, a penalty shootout after 120 minutes against Australia, left little room for complacency, and Musso’s comments reflected a squad culture built on the idea that every player, starter or reserve, is part of the same protection around Argentina’s run.