Ladbrokes previews Argentina vs Egypt in the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup, with bet builder tips
Lionel Messi to score another two goals as he leads Argentina to victory in the RO16
Mohamed Salah tipped to test Emi Martinez, with Alexis Mac Allister committing multiple fouls
Ladbrokes brings you an in-depth match preview for Argentina vs Egypt in the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup, including odds, predictions, and bet builder tips.
As Lionel Messi continues to show everyone exactly why he has a record eight Ballon d'Ors to his name, Argentina remain firmly in the hunt to win a second consecutive World Cup - and with a determined Egypt standing between the reigning world champions and a place in the last eight, we should be in for a cracker in the Atlanta sunshine.
Below, we've put together the ultimate Argentina vs Egypt bet builder, with potential starting lineups, our score prediction, and the latest live betting markets - so read on!
Our predicted XI (4-1-2-1-2): E. Martinez / Molina, Romero, Li. Martinez, Tagliafico / De Paul / Mac Allister, Fernandez / Almada / Messi, La. Martinez
Egypt
Our predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Shobeir / Hany, Abdelmaguid, Rabia, El Fotouh / Lasheen, Ateya / Ashour, Salah, Marmoush / Ziko
Argentina vs Egypt: Bet builder tips
Lionel Messi to score at least two goals against Egypt
There's only one place to start when talking about Argentina, and that is the continued brilliance of Lionel Messi, who is still dragging his team through at the age of 37 - and we're predicting another masterclass here, with the diminutive icon scoring at least twice.
The leading goalscorer in World Cup history, Messi has no choice but to step up again if he wants to keep his record out of the reach of Kylian Mbappe, and with the likes of Mbappe, Harry Kane, and Erling Haaland all scoring at a scary rate this summer, he'll have to find the net against Egypt if he wants to maintain control of the Golden Boot race. With a goal in every match so far - and a ridiculous average of more than four shots on target per 90 - it's little wonder Messi is odds-on to score in the Round of 16, and with Egypt conceding in every game so far, we're going to see chances - and they'll likely be taken.
So Messi to score at least two goals is the first pick of our Argentina vs Egypt bet builder, breaking yet more records as he takes his World Cup tally to 22.
Mohamed Salah to have 1+ shots on target
From one left-footed danger man to another, Egypt talisman Mohamed Salah is tipped to get at least one shot on target by Ladbrokes' football experts, with the Liverpool man looking to guide his team to an unlikely quarter-final.
The skipper has been showing his class so far, with a goal and a couple of assists to go with his eye-catching all-round performances, and we're backing him to test the keeper as he hunts a first-ever World Cup knockout goal. The Premier League legend is averaging well over two shots per 90 this summer, with just about 50% of them hitting the target, and as he currently sits just one goal behind manager Hossam Hassan's all-time record of 69 goals for the Pharaohs, we're anticipating a lively Salah performance in the Round of 16.
So 1+ shots on target for the 34-year-old is our tip, with Emi Martinez being kept busy in the Argentina goal.
Alexis Mac Allister to commit 2+ fouls
Switching our focus to the less glamorous side of the game, we're tipping Salah's Liverpool teammate Alexis Mac Allister to commit a couple of fouls in Argentina vs Egypt, setting the tone for a full-blooded RO16 tie.
Lionel Scaloni's world champions have won every game so far, and Mac Allister's combative, dogged style in midfield is a big reason why, with the 27-year-old never giving opponents a moment's peace. He's committing an average of almost 1.5 fouls per 90 at the 2026 World Cup, making well over three tackles a game at the same time, and with almost 5.5 defensive contributions per game, it's clear to see that he's always right in the thick of it - and we expect much of the same here.
So Mac Allister to commit 2+ fouls against Egypt seems a smart pick, with the 2022 World Cup winner doing everything he can to disrupt his dangerous opponents.
Argentina to beat Egypt inside 90 minutes
Wrapping up our Argentina vs Egypt match preview and predictions, we're tipping Messi and Co to beat Egypt inside 90 minutes, reaching the quarter-finals for the fourth time in five World Cups.
Both teams actually enter this one without a single defeat so far, but with Egypt having drawn three of their four matches, they haven't shown much killer edge up to this point - and that's where Argentina will thrive. La Albiceleste have scored at least twice in all four games at the World Cup, bagging three goals more often than not, and against a nation without a single clean sheet since the end of May, they'll be expecting to get the job done - and our experts are in firm agreement.
You can bet on each of these markets individually, or combine them to create an Argentina vs Egypt Bet Builder. Plus, with Bet Builder+, you can combine your bet not only with other World Cup matches, but also with different sports.
Argentina vs Egypt takes place on Tuesday, 7 July, with kick-off for the Round of 16 match scheduled for 17:00 BST.
How can I watch Argentina vs Egypt at the World Cup?
The World Cup match, Argentina vs Egypt, will be shown live on ITV and ITVX for UK viewers.
Can you bet on Argentina vs Egypt?
Ladbrokes are offering customers the chance to bet on a number of Argentina vs Egypt markets, including anytime goalscorer, both teams to score, and cards markets.
