According to Al Jazeera fans, Argentine supporters threw beer bottles and shouted abuse at them when their team scored in the final.
Published July 8, 2026
Some fans from Egypt and Cape Verde have accused Argentina fans of violence in the last two matches played by the reigning World Cup champions.
The accusations, coupled with at least one high-profile racism allegation, have brought fresh scrutiny to Argentina’s title defense after two closely fought knockout matches in which lower-ranked opponents nearly embarrassed Lionel Messi’s side.
Egypt led Argentina 2-0 in Atlanta on Tuesday as Messi’s side made a stunning late comeback to advance to the quarter-finals.
Their fans reacted to the team’s poor start and eventual comeback by attacking their Egyptian side opponents in ugly scenes filmed by the Atlanta Stadium crowd. An Albiceleste supporter was filmed throwing beer at Egyptian fans after the world champions equalized with the Pharaohs late in the round of 16 match.
“They’re throwing beer at us,” said a fan who filmed the incident at Atlanta Stadium on Tuesday.
“When we scored the goal, we did nothing against them. After they scored the goal, they started attacking us,” he added, panning the camera towards the Argentine fans and provoking Egyptian supporters.
Several videos and photos posted by fans at the stadium also showed the Argentine waving an Israeli flag at the Egyptian coaching staff as they exited the field after the match.
Egyptian national team coach Hossam Hassan spoke passionately about the plight of the Palestinian people, especially the people of the Gaza Strip, where Israel has been waging a genocidal war since October 2023.
He made headlines last week for holding up the Palestinian flag after Egypt’s round-of-32 victory over Australia, and subsequently addressed the issue at Monday’s pre-match press conference.
“If there is anyone in the world who does not sympathize with the Palestinians, whether he is an Arab, European or American, he is not a human being,” Hassan said.
The incident in Atlanta was not an isolated incident involving Argentine fans.
Last Friday, tiny Cape Verde gave Argentina a scare in a Round of 32 match in Miami. The underrated but tenacious African team wowed the mostly Argentinian crowd at Miami Stadium with two impressive goals against the three-time champions.
After Argentina’s win over Cape Verde, fans of the African team told Al Jazeera that they threw beer bottles at the South American team every time they scored a goal.
“We had far fewer fans than them and they attacked us with bottles after every goal,” a fan who asked to remain anonymous told Al Jazeera outside Miami Stadium on Friday.
Argentina has advanced to the quarterfinals and will face Switzerland at Kansas City Stadium on Saturday, but it remains to be seen whether FIFA will take any action or issue a warning.
FIFA did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for comment.
Earlier on Tuesday, the sport’s world governing body issued a statement condemning the abuse directed at social media celebrity IShowSpeed during Argentina’s match against Cape Verde.
The American influencer has watched and streamed several World Cup matches under an agreement with FIFA, US-based host broadcaster Fox Sports, and YouTube, which allows him to simulcast the official match feed.
During a live broadcast of Argentina vs. Cape Verde in Miami, Speed turned to a fan wearing an Argentina jersey who was leaning against the railing in the stands and was getting attention. When asked what he was saying, the fan apparently told Speed in Spanish, “Go to the zoo and cry.”
FIFA announced that it had “immediately begun an investigation” into the July 3 incident in Miami.
The group described the World Cup as a “celebration of unity, diversity and respect” and said it would not welcome anyone who “takes actions that undermine these values”.
