Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan has made clear that his side will not deviate from their established playing identity when they meet reigning world champions Argentina in Tuesday's FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16.

The Pharaohs secured their knockout-stage berth following a strong group-stage campaign, setting up a heavyweight encounter against an Argentina side driven by the irrepressible Lionel Messi.

Hassan's message to his squad

Speaking in the build-up to the match, Hassan acknowledged Argentina's formidable quality but drew a firm line: Egypt would not be paralysed by the opposition's reputation or star power.

"We have great respect for Argentina and for all their players, including Lionel Messi, who is one of the greatest players in football. But if you spend the whole match thinking about the opponent, you will not perform," Hassan told FIFA.com.

"We have our own style and our own identity. For the last two and a half years, we have worked to build a team that plays its own football, regardless of who we face."

Consistency throughout the tournament

Hassan pointed to Egypt's uniform approach across all three group-stage fixtures as evidence of the mentality he has instilled in the squad. The Pharaohs have applied the same focus whether facing European heavyweights or lower-ranked opposition.

"We respected Belgium, New Zealand and Iran, but we always focused on ourselves. That will not change against Argentina. We want to impose our style of play," the coach added.

Egypt's place in the last 16 represents a significant milestone for African football, and Hassan is determined that his side will compete — not merely participate — when they step out against the world champions.