Zohran Mamdani says Egypt “were robbed” in World Cup loss to Argentina

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a former amateur footballer, said that Egypt “were robbed” in their dramatic 3-2 Round of 16 loss to Argentina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The remark came during an event unveiling improvements to the city’s bus service, where Mamdani used the match as a relatable example of how saved commuting time could benefit New Yorkers.

Mamdani told the audience: “It means agreeing with your friends that Egypt were robbed yesterday.”

He added that extra time could be spent “watching the replays of Egypt getting robbed again and again” and referenced VAR decisions, saying, “Just gotta throw up the VAR.”

The match saw Egypt take a 2-0 lead before Argentina mounted a late comeback with three goals, including a winner by Enzo Fernández in stoppage time.

Controversy erupted over referee François Letexier’s decisions and VAR interventions.

A key flashpoint was a goal by Egypt’s Mostafa Zico in the 62nd minute, which would have extended their lead to 2-0.

VAR reviewed an earlier incident involving contact on the other side of the pitch, leading to the goal being disallowed.

Egyptian players and fans protested vigorously, with additional complaints about a late penalty appeal involving Mohamed Salah.

The Egyptian Football Association issued a strong statement criticizing “controversial and influential refereeing incidents” and filed a formal complaint with FIFA, requesting an investigation into the officiating and the exclusion of the French refereeing team from the remainder of the tournament.

Head coach Hossam Hassan described the decisions as “unfair.”