ATLANTA — The 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 16 is set to deliver a high-stakes showdown between defending champion Argentina and historic underdog Egypt, with both teams announcing key starting lineup shifts ahead of Tuesday’s match. Argentine head coach Lionel Scaloni made three notable changes to his side, headlined by recalling Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez to the starting frontline in place of Lautaro Martinez. Scaloni also swapped in left-back Nicolas Tagliafico and midfielder Leandro Paredes into the starting XI to shore up the side ahead of the knockout round test.
On Egypt’s side, manager also adjusted his lineup, opting to bench Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush in favor of starting winger Haissem Hassan. Midfielder Mohanad Lashin reclaimed his spot in the starting group after serving a one-match suspension, returning to add defensive stability and distribution to the Pharaohs’ midfield.
This knockout match carries historic stakes for both sides. Argentina enters the contest chasing a unique place in World Cup folklore: if Lionel Scaloni’s side can lift the trophy for a second consecutive tournament, they will become the first nation to win back-to-back World Cup titles since Brazil achieved the feat in 1958 and 1962. The defending champions already faced a major test in the round of 32, getting an unexpected scare from Cape Verde, an underdog ranked far lower in the global standings. Argentina ultimately scraped through with a 3-2 extra time win, but the tight contest proved that even the tournament favorites can be pushed to the limit by determined lower-ranked sides.
For Egypt, this match already marks a watershed moment in the nation’s World Cup history. This is the first time Egypt has advanced past the group stage in five total World Cup appearances, having fallen at the first hurdle in each of its four previous campaigns. Led by star forward Mohamed Salah, the African side will look to add another chapter to its historic run by upsetting the defending champions and advancing to the quarterfinals.
Full starting lineups for the match are as follows:
– Argentina: E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, L. Martinez, Tagliafico; De Paul, Mac Allister, Paredes, Fernandez; Messi, Alvarez
– Egypt: Shobeir; Hany, Ibrahim, Rabia, Hafez; Ashour, Attia, Lashin, Hassan; Salah, Zico
Reporting by James Robson, additional coverage from the Associated Press.