NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani says Egypt were robbed in World Cup loss to Argentina

New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani said Egypt "were robbed" after the country’s 3‑2 Round‑of‑16 defeat to Argentina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He made the remark while presenting his "Next Stop: Better Buses, Faster Service" programme, linking the alleged injustice to the time savings promised by the transport plan. Mamdani’s comment echoed criticism of French referee François Letexier and a VAR decision that disallowed Mostafa Zico’s goal for a foul occurring more than 20 seconds before the ball crossed the line.

The Egyptian Football Association filed a formal complaint with FIFA, alleging bias and improper use of VAR. Mamdani’s statement went viral, and Argentine Buenos Aires chief of government Jorge Macri responded, quoting Lionel Messi: "Andá pa’ allá, bobo," rejecting the accusation and defending the Argentine side. The controversy highlights ongoing debate over VAR protocols and the intersection of politics and sport.

Key quotes: Mamdani said, "It means agreeing with your friends that Egypt were robbed yesterday." Macri replied, "Le diría a Mamdani que no se meta con la selección, con los muchachos no… Andá pa’ allá, bobo."