Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah are set to face off in one of the most anticipated matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Argentina and Egypt will clash in the Round of 16 on Tuesday, July 7, at Atlanta Stadium in Georgia, USA, with kick-off at 12:00 PM local time (17:00 GMT).

How the Teams Reached the Round of 16

Argentina topped Group J with a perfect record of nine points, having secured victories over Austria, Algeria, and Jordan — However, the reigning champions had a scare in their last group stage match, needing extra time to defeat Cape Verde 3-2. Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the 29th minute, continuing his record-breaking run, with eight goals in as many games this tournament.

Egypt made history by reaching the Round of 16 with a 4-2 penalty shootout victory over Australia after a 1-1 draw in 120 minutes. Eman Ashour scored his second goal of the tournament in regulation time, and the Pharaohs converted all four of their penalties to win their first-ever World Cup knockout stage match. This is only the second time an African team has advanced this far in the 2026 tournament, alongside Nigeria.

Match Predictions and Key Players

The game is expected to be a tactical battle, with Argentina relying on Messi’s creativity and Egypt leaning on Mohamed Salah’s pace and vision. According to Al Jazeera. Argentina have been the favorites in every game they’ve played at the tournament, but their recent narrow victory has cast doubt on their invincibility. Meanwhile, Egypt, with a run of only one loss in their last eight matches, will aim to continue their historic journey and reach their first-ever quarterfinal.

Messi is aiming to become the sixth player in history to score in the first five matches of a World Cup, he has already scored 20 career World Cup goals, a record. Salah, on the other hand, has created 16 chances for his teammates in the tournament so far, more than any other player in the Round of 16, according to Goal.com. Argentina’s defense. However, has been leaky at times, conceding in three of their four matches, including the 3-2 extra-time win over Cape Verde.

How to Watch and Stream

Viewers can follow the match on Al Jazeera Sport from 12:30 GMT for build-up before the live text commentary stream — those outside the United States may need to use a virtual private network (VPN) to access the broadcast. According to Goal.com. Services like ExpressVPN or NordVPN allow users to virtually change their location and bypass blackout restrictions. The match will also be available for streaming on various platforms, with smart TVs and streaming devices supporting the use of a connected phone or laptop to mirror the content.

The winner of this match will face Switzerland or Colombia in the quarterfinals on July 11 in Kansas City, but the loser will be eliminated from the tournament. This is the first time Egypt has reached the Round of 16 in the 2026 World Cup, and they carry the hopes of the continent, Argentina, meanwhile, are attempting to become the first team since Brazil (1958, 1962) to win back-to-back World Cup titles.