Former England striker Ian Wright has questioned the decision to allow Argentina’s late winner against Egypt in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16, arguing that VAR should have reviewed an alleged foul on Mohamed Salah during the build-up.
Argentina came from two goals down to secure a dramatic 3-2 victory, with Cristian Romero and Lionel Messi cancelling out goals from Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa before Enzo Fernández scored the stoppage-time winner to send the defending champions into the quarter-finals.
Speaking on ITV Sport, Wright said officials applied VAR inconsistently, noting that Egypt had an earlier goal disallowed after a review but Salah’s penalty appeal moments before Argentina’s winner was not examined.
“That’s what’s happening with VAR now, they’re pulling it back. If you’re going to pull it back for Argentina on the edge of the box to disallow a goal, you have to pull it back for this one with Mo Salah. He’s been caught,” Wright said.
The controversy centres on an incident in which Salah appeared to be challenged by Julián Álvarez inside the penalty area before Argentina launched the counterattack that led to Fernández’s decisive goal, prompting renewed debate over the consistency of VAR decisions.
