Ibrahim Hassan, assistant coach of Egypt, delivered a blunt pre-match message as his side prepared to face Argentina in the World Cup round of 16. “We don’t see Messi,” he told an Egyptian broadcaster. “They have Messi, but we have Mohamed Salah and 26 Messis.” The remark, widely reported in Cairo and Buenos Aires, set the tone for a contest that pits the defending champions against a team appearing in the knockout phase for the first time in its history.

Egypt reached this stage after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Australia, having earlier secured a first-ever World Cup win against New Zealand and drawn with Belgium and Iran. Salah, who converted a Panenka-style penalty in the shootout, has been managing a knock but is expected to lead the line. Argentine media note that the forward, with 68 international goals, needs one more to equal the national record held by his current head coach, Hossam Hassan.

Argentina’s journey to Atlanta was disrupted by an electrical storm that delayed the squad’s flight from Miami by over an hour. The team arrived at their hotel near midnight local time, prompting the coaching staff to consider adjusting Monday’s training schedule. The Albiceleste are coming off a taxing 3-2 extra-time win over Cape Verde, a match in which Messi suffered a blow to the head but continued playing and later trained normally. He has scored seven goals in four matches, a tally matched only by Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland at this tournament.

Head coach Lionel Scaloni is weighing at least three changes to his starting lineup. Nicolás Tagliafico could return at left-back in place of Facundo Medina, while Leandro Paredes is under consideration to reinforce midfield, which would allow Alexis Mac Allister to push forward. The identity of the centre-forward remains unsettled: Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez are competing for the spot alongside Messi. Argentine outlets report that Scaloni has yet to finalise his XI, with a decision expected after the final training session.

Around 50,000 Argentine supporters are expected in Atlanta, many travelling from Miami without tickets. The Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which hosted Argentina’s 2-0 win over Canada in the 2024 Copa América, will stage the first senior World Cup meeting between the two nations. The winner advances to a quarter-final, keeping alive the prospect of a second consecutive world title for Argentina or a historic breakthrough for Egypt.