# World Cup 2026: Messi vs Salah Showdown as Argentina Face Egypt in Round of 16; Co-Host USA Eliminated
**The 2026 FIFA World Cup is heating up in the knockout stages — and Tuesday brings one of the most anticipated clashes of the tournament: defending champion Argentina vs Egypt, featuring two of football’s greatest living icons.**
## Argentina vs Egypt: Messi Meets Salah on the Biggest Stage
All eyes turn to Atlanta today as **Argentina** — the reigning World Cup champions — take on **Egypt** in the Round of 16 (17:00 BST / 12:00 PM ET). The stakes couldn’t be higher: a place in the quarter-finals, where the winner will face either Switzerland or Colombia.
At the heart of the drama is a generational collision between **Lionel Messi (39)** and **Mohamed Salah (34)** — two players who have defined an era of football.
Messi has been nothing short of sensational in what is likely his final World Cup campaign. The Argentine captain has scored in all four of his team’s matches, netting **seven goals** to sit joint-top of the Golden Boot race alongside Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland. At 39, Messi is defying age, playing with the energy of a man half his age, carrying Argentina on a quest to become the first back-to-back World Cup champion since Brazil in 1962.
For Egypt, this match is historic. The Pharaohs have reached the World Cup knockout rounds for the **first time ever**, thanks in large part to Salah’s heroics — including a nerveless Panenka penalty in the penalty shootout victory over Australia in the last 32. Salah, 34, has become more than just a footballer in Egypt; he’s a symbol of national pride and inspiration.
## USA’s World Cup Journey Ends Against Belgium
In Monday’s action, **co-host United States saw their World Cup dream crushed** by a dominant Belgium side, losing **4-1** in Seattle. Romelu Lukaku was the star, scoring as Belgium outclassed Mauricio Pochettino’s team.
The match was overshadowed by controversy — FIFA controversially suspended Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban after a personal appeal from former US President Donald Trump, who called the potential suspension a “big stain” on the tournament. Despite being available, Balogun couldn’t change the outcome, with only one real chance well saved by Thibaut Courtois.
The USA becomes the last of the three co-hosts eliminated, following Mexico’s defeat to England on Monday and Canada’s loss to Morocco on Saturday.
## Golden Boot Race Heats Up
The race for the Golden Boot is wide open with four players tied or close:
– **Kylian Mbappé (France)** — 7 goals
– **Lionel Messi (Argentina)** — 7 goals
– **Erling Haaland (Norway)** — 7 goals
– **Harry Kane (England)** — 6 goals
A goal today would put Messi outright top of the charts.
## Upcoming World Cup 2026 Round of 16 Schedule
| Date | Match | Time (BST) |
|——|——-|———–|
| Tue Jul 7 | **Argentina vs Egypt** | 17:00 |
| Tue Jul 7 | **Switzerland vs Colombia** | 21:00 |
| Thu Jul 9 | Quarter-Final 1 | TBD |
| Fri Jul 10 | Quarter-Final 2 | TBD |
| Sat Jul 11 | Quarter-Final 3 | TBD |
| Sun Jul 12 | Quarter-Final 4 | TBD |
| Tue Jul 14 | Semi-Final 1 | TBD |
| Wed Jul 15 | Semi-Final 2 | TBD |
| Sat Jul 18 | **World Cup Final** | TBD |
## Frequently Asked Questions
### Is this Messi’s last World Cup?
Messi has strongly suggested that the 2026 tournament will be his last. At 39 years old, he’s playing his sixth World Cup — more than any player in history — and has broken records for most appearances, most goals, and consecutive matches with a goal in World Cup history.
### Can Egypt actually win against Argentina?
Egypt are massive underdogs, but they’ve already made history by reaching the knockout stages for the first time. With Salah leading the line and Argentina showing signs of “Messi-dependency,” an upset isn’t out of the question. Egypt’s coach Hossam Hassan has called this “a great opportunity to prove ourselves.”
—
*Stay tuned to PC Master Deals for the latest World Cup 2026 coverage, results, and analysis.*