New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has added his voice to the ongoing debate surrounding Egypt's Round of 16 defeat to Argentina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, saying the Pharaohs were "robbed" during the controversial match.

Mamdani made the remark while launching a new initiative aimed at improving bus services across New York City. As he concluded his speech about helping residents save time, he told the audience: "It also means agreeing with your friends that Egypt got robbed yesterday." The comment drew applause from those in attendance.

Refereeing Debate Continues

The Egypt–Argentina match has remained one of the tournament's most debated fixtures following the controversial disallowing of Mostafa Ziko's goal after a lengthy VAR review, along with Egypt's appeals for other key decisions, including a late penalty involving Mohamed Salah.

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The Egyptian Football Association has since submitted an official complaint to FIFA over the performance of the refereeing team led by French official François Letexier, arguing that several decisions had a direct impact on the outcome of the match.

Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan also criticized the officiating after the final whistle, while FIFA Referees Committee chairman Pierluigi Collina later defended the match officials, insisting their decisions were made in accordance with the Laws of the Game.

Mamdani's remarks add another high-profile voice to the controversy, highlighting how the debate surrounding Egypt's World Cup exit has extended well beyond the football world.