FIFA president raises the Egyptian flag... what's the story?

The match between Colombia and Switzerland, the final game of the Round of 16 in the 2026 World Cup, witnessed a remarkable scene when FIFA President Gianni Infantino raised the Egyptian flag before kickoff. This gesture came despite the Egyptian national team not participating in the match, following the controversy and protests that accompanied their elimination from the tournament after a 3-2 loss to Argentina in the Round of 16, a match marred by several controversial refereeing decisions. Infantino made a point of paying tribute to the Egyptian team and its fans, acknowledging the level of performance the team displayed throughout the tournament, having reached the Round of 16 for the first time in its history and putting on a strong showing against the defending champions, Argentina. The Egypt-Argentina match saw widespread objections due to several refereeing decisions, most notably the disallowed goal by Mostafa Abdel Raouf "Zico" for a prior foul, a decision that sparked considerable debate among analysts and media outlets, amidst criticism of the match management.