New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani Says Egypt Were “Robbed” After Controversial World Cup Defeat to Argentina

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has weighed in on one of the biggest talking points of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, saying Egypt were “robbed” during their controversial Round of 16 defeat to defending champions Argentina.

Egypt’s dramatic 3-2 loss on Tuesday sparked widespread debate after several contentious refereeing decisions overshadowed an otherwise thrilling contest. The match drew criticism from Egypt’s players and coaching staff, who questioned a number of officiating calls, particularly those involving the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

Mamdani referenced the controversy while announcing a new bus improvement initiative aimed at reducing commuting times for New Yorkers. During his remarks to residents on Wednesday, he explained how the project would give people more time to spend with their families and communities before making a light-hearted reference to the World Cup.

“Within six months, you will have spent 24 fewer hours on the bus. By the time a year rolls around, you will have saved more than two days of commuting time. That means breakfast with your family. It means having the time to argue balls and strikes at your kid’s Little League game. It means getting home for bedtime,” he said.

He then added, “It means agreeing with your friends that Egypt were robbed yesterday. Above all, it means time returned to New Yorkers who don’t have nearly enough of it.”

The mayor later continued the joke when asked how he would use the extra six minutes commuters could save each day under the transportation plan.

“With my extra six minutes, I would probably just watch the replays of Egypt getting robbed. Again and again,” Mamdani said before adding, “You know, just gotta throw up the VAR.”

The comments come amid ongoing discussions about the officiating during the Argentina-Egypt encounter. One of the most debated moments occurred in the second half when Egypt had a goal from Mostafa Ziko disallowed following a VAR review. The referee ruled that a foul had occurred in the build-up to the goal, a decision that drew strong objections from Egypt’s players and coaching staff.

Following the match, several members of the Egyptian team publicly expressed their frustration with the officiating. One player even alleged that the tournament had been “fixed,” although no evidence has been presented to support that claim.

Despite the controversy, FIFA has not indicated that it will review or overturn the match result, and Argentina progressed to the quarter-finals, where the defending champions continue their quest to retain the World Cup title.

Mamdani’s remarks have since attracted attention on social media, reflecting how the controversial match has resonated well beyond the football community and become a talking point in broader public discussions.