Round of 16 · Match 7
ArgentinavsEgypt
2026-07-07·12:00 local·Mercedes-Benz Stadium · AtlantaPredictions finalised
Match signals
Factors that favour each side, from statistical models to group stage form and match conditions. Longer bars = stronger advantage.
Argentina are dominant at 68% vs Egypt's 5%. Quality, form, and model estimates all point the same way. An upset here would be a major story.
📊What the Models Say
Rates teams by a single strength number updated after every match. Simpler but fast to react. It rates Argentina at 81% to win vs Egypt at 0%.
Simulates the goal-scoring process using attack and defence strength. The heaviest-weighted model. It rates Argentina at 63% to win vs Egypt at 10%.
Groups teams by confederation to share information. Helps for teams with fewer matches. It rates Argentina at 63% to win vs Egypt at 11%.
The published probability after calibration and adjustments. This is what the model says. It rates Argentina at 68% to win vs Egypt at 5%.
All 3 models agree: Argentina is favoured. When models agree, the signal is stronger.
⚽Tournament Form
Argentina collected 15 points (5W 0D 0L) vs Egypt's 6 (1W 3D 1L). A stronger tournament record.
Argentina averaged 2.8 goals per match vs Egypt's 1.6. More firepower coming in.
Argentina conceded just 1.0 goals/match vs Egypt's 1.4. Tighter at the back.
Argentina's goal difference of +9 is better than Egypt's +1. They outperformed opponents by more.
📈Momentum
Egypt's rating rose +27.1 during the tournament while Argentina's moved +18.6. The tournament has been kinder to Egypt.
Egypt's players improved their form ratings during the tournament (+0.0087) vs Argentina (+0.0017). Players trending upward.
🏆Team Quality
Argentina is rated 2113 vs Egypt's 1689 (gap: 424). That's a very large gap in historical team strength.
The model expects Argentina to create 1.47 expected goals vs Egypt's 0.42. More and better chances projected.
Egypt's top 3 starters are harder to replace (avg VORP 0.43) than Argentina's (0.29). More star power in key positions.
Argentina's starters play together at club level more often (0.043 cohesion) than Egypt's (0.000). More shared understanding on the pitch.
🌍Match Conditions
Argentina traveled 8,307km vs Egypt's 10,424km. A shorter journey means less fatigue.
Argentina face a 1h timezone shift vs Egypt's 7h. Less jet lag disruption.
17 signals across 5 categories. Signal strength reflects how large the gap is between the two teams on each factor. Signals are descriptive, not prescriptive.
A previsão
Match-outcome probability
- Argentina win68.7%
- Draw26.0%
- Egypt win5.3%
A 424-point Elo gap frames this as a significant mismatch, yet the model still gives Egypt a 5% probability of a result — enough to make this more than a formality.
▸Gols e placares
Likeliest score 1–0 (21.6%) · xG 1.5 - 0.4
Expected goals
Mean of the Dixon-Coles joint goal distribution. Same fit that produces the most-likely-scoreline list below.
Most likely scorelines
- 1–021.6%
- 2–016.3%
- 0–015.7%
- 1–19.9%
- 3–08.0%
From the Dixon-Coles joint Poisson with the low-score correction. Scorelines are listed in probability order; this is a description of the model's distribution, not a recommendation.
Most likely half-time scorelines
- 0–039.2%
- 1–028.2%
- 2–010.5%
- 0–17.8%
- 1–16.4%
Same Dixon-Coles fit as the full-time list above, with rates halved to a 45-minute window and the low-score correction applied to that 1st-half block. The 0-0 row sits higher here than at full-time because fewer minutes have elapsed.
Goal totals
- More than 0.5 goals84.3%
- More than 1.5 goals57.0%
- More than 2.5 goals29.4%
- More than 3.5 goals12.4%
- More than 4.5 goals4.3%
- More than 5.5 goals1.3%
- Both teams score27.1%
Each row is the probability the match finishes with more than the listed number of goals. Both-teams-to-score is the probability each side scores at least once. All values are marginals of the Dixon-Coles joint goal grid that produces the scoreline list above — not market lines or any other operator construct.
Event-typed probabilities
- Argentina clean sheetOpposing team scores zero65.6%
- Egypt clean sheetOpposing team scores zero23.0%
Derived from the same Dixon-Coles joint distribution as the scoreline list. These are descriptive event probabilities — see CLAUDE.md §3/§4 (formerly COMPLIANCE.md §4.2.7) for the framing the project uses.
Win-margin probability
- Argentina by 4+4.6%
- Argentina by 3+13.9%
- Argentina by 2+33.8%
- Argentina by 1+63.0%
- Draw27.1%
- Egypt by 1+9.8%
- Egypt by 2+1.9%
- Egypt by 3+0.2%
- Egypt by 4+<0.1%
Each row is the probability the match ends with the listed margin or larger in that direction. Marginal of the Dixon-Coles joint goal grid; the “by 1+” rows plus the draw row sum to 1.
▸Como o jogo se desenrola
Over 2.5 goals 29.4% · BTTS 27.1%
Game state through the match
- Argentina ahead63.6%
- Level26.0%
- Egypt ahead10.4%
Probability of each game state at minutes 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90 — derived from two independent thinned-Poisson processes with the Dixon-Coles per-team rates. The three lines always sum to 1 at each minute. The right column shows the state at the match's closing minute.
When the first goal arrives
- 0–1527.0%
- 15–3019.7%
- 30–4514.4%
- 45–6010.5%
- 60–757.7%
- 75–905.6%
- No goal15.1%
Probability the match's first goal arrives in each 15-minute window. Homogeneous Poisson with combined rate λ = λh + λa from the Dixon-Coles fit; the seven rows (six windows + no-goal tail) sum to 1.
Half-time / full-time grid
| HT ↓ / FT → | HArgentina win | DDraw | AEgypt win |
|---|---|---|---|
| HArgentina ahead | 41.6% | 2.8% | 0.3% |
| DLevel | 20.7% | 20.7% | 4.5% |
| AEgypt ahead | 1.2% | 2.7% | 5.5% |
Each cell is P(half-time result, full-time result). All nine cells sum to 1. Derived from a halved-λ Dixon-Coles fit for the first half plus an independent-Poisson second-half convolution.
Comeback probability
- Argentina trail at HT, avoid defeat at FT4.0%
- Egypt trail at HT, avoid defeat at FT3.1%
Joint probability — P(side trailing at half-time AND avoiding defeat at full-time). NOT conditional on trailing at HT. Derived from the same half-time / full-time decomposition that produces the HT/FT grid above; a tied first half is neither a home nor an away comeback opportunity.
PK shootout simulator
If the match ends level after extra time, the model estimates the shootout outcome from each team's Bayesian-smoothed conversion / save rate (Model #15). The bracket simulator uses the symmetric (averaged) ordering; the two what-if scenarios below show how the win probabilities shift when conditioning on which team kicks first.
- Argentina53.3%
- Egypt46.7%
- Argentina65.1%
- Egypt34.9%
- Argentina41.5%
- Egypt58.5%
First-kicker advantage
The first kicker's per-kick conversion rate is scaled by ×1.050 (about +5.0%), stacked on the Markov chain's structural asymmetry. Real World Cup shootouts use a coin toss for kicker order, so on average the order is 50/50 — the symmetric path above is the relevant number for a single fixture. The ordering-conditioned probabilities are a descriptive what-if scenario.
Literature: first kickers win ≈ 60% historically (Apesteguia & Palacios-Huerta, American Economic Review 2010; Vandebroek et al. 2016).
Per-team posteriors: Argentina conv 77.0%, save 27.9%; Egypt conv 75.0%, save 27.5%. Smoothed against the global prior with prior strength 20 — see /docs/methodology/.
▸Seleções e jogadores
Top scorer: Salah (11.3%)
Match detail
Argentina
Model-rated key players: Lionel Messi (FW) — P(scores) 8.8%; Lautaro Martínez (FW) — P(scores) 3.7%; Nicolás González (FW) — P(scores) 2.9%.
Argentina under Lionel Scaloni play a possession dominant game, holding 59% of the ball — among the highest in the tournament field. Their likely shape is a 4-3-3, though they have also used 3-5-2 and 4-4-2. They apply moderate pressing intensity (PPDA 19.1) and build patiently through midfield with 7.8 passes per attacking sequence. They favour high-quality chances (xG/shot 0.163, among the best in the field).
To succeed, Argentina must control tempo and territory in midfield — their possession-dominant approach depends on dictating the rhythm of each match. Managing minutes for Lionel Messi across what could be seven matches will test the coaching staff's rotation planning.
Egypt
Model-rated key players: Mohamed Salah (FW) — P(scores) 11.3%; Omar Marmoush (FW) — P(scores) 3.5%; Trézéguet (FW) — P(scores) 2.4%.
Egypt under Hossam Hassan play a pragmatic game with 51% possession. They apply moderate pressing intensity (PPDA 21.8). They generate a high volume of shots (13.7 per 90).
Egypt play a pragmatic, results-oriented game that adapts shape to the opposition. Tactical flexibility is their strength. The risk is inconsistency — without a default identity, a poor result can cascade if the team struggles to find a Plan B. Managing the fitness of Mohamed Salah could prove decisive — their availability transforms the team's ceiling.
Argentina's predicted XI averages 1,997 club minutes over the 2024-25 season (moderate load).
Argentina coverage: 85.0% (11/11 XI matched against the FBref Big-5) · Egypt: 9.0% (2/11).
Argentina historically converts 17.1% of xG from set-pieces, contributing 0.25 expected set-piece goals in this fixture. Egypt converts 17.3% from set-pieces (0.07 expected). Combined, the model expects 0.32 set-piece goals across the 90 minutes.
- P(Argentina scores set-piece goal) 22.2%
- P(Egypt scores set-piece goal) 7.0%
- P(set-piece goal in match) 27.7%
Argentina: Lionel Messi on corners (32 corners), Guido Rodríguez on free kicks (per fbref 2022 23)
If a penalty is awarded to Argentina, the model gives 77.0% conversion, 75.0% for Egypt. If this match goes to a shootout, the symmetric (coin-toss averaged) win probability is 53.3% Argentina / 46.7% Egypt.
Argentina primary PK: Lionel Messi (3/5 in 2020-21, per fbref 2022 23) · Egypt primary PK: Mohamed Salah (5/6 in 2021-22, per fbref 2021 22).
Derived from the model's per-fixture forecast joint and supporting reference data (predicted squads, set-piece xG share, PK posteriors, club minutes). See /docs/methodology/ for the full methodology.
Squad depth
Most irreplaceable starters
Argentina
- Giovani Lo CelsoAttacking midfieldNo natural backup0.30gap
- Lautaro MartínezStrikerCover: José Manuel López · 0.670.30gap
- Leandro ParedesDefensive midfieldNo natural backup0.26gap
Egypt
- Omar MarmoushStrikerNo natural backup0.69gap
- Mohamed SalahWingerCover: Ibrahim Adel · 0.390.35gap
- Emam AshourCentral midfieldCover: Mahmoud Saber · 0.130.26gap
Gap = how far a side's rating at the position falls from the starter to his likely in-squad replacement (named under each name). Larger = harder to replace. Descriptive metric, does not feed the published probabilities. Methodology →
Match conditions
- AltitudeNear sea level320 m
- Avg temperatureFive-year mean over the tournament window25.7 °C
- Avg humidity73%
- Heat stressShade WBGT ~27.9 °CLow heat stress
- Pitch surfacetemporary natural grass over artificial turf
Indoor artificial-turf stadium converting to a temporary natural-grass pitch for the tournament.
Heat stress is a shade Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature proxy from the venue's climatology mean temperature and humidity; FIFA mandates cooling breaks at WBGT 32 °C. Afternoon kickoff (local time). These are long-window averages, not a match-day forecast, and they are not inputs to the forecast.
Top scorers · P(scores in this match)
- Lionel MessiPKFW8.8%
- Lautaro MartínezFW3.7%
- Nicolás GonzálezFW2.9%
- Mohamed SalahPKFW11.3%
- Omar MarmoushFW3.5%
- TrézéguetFW2.4%
Per-player scoring rate from Model #5 (`p_score_per_match`). Reflects each player's npxG/90, expected minutes, team xG share, and the average opposing-team defence. See /docs/methodology/.
Recent match form
Last match player ratings
Argentina
vs Cape Verde · avg 6.6
Egypt
vs Australia · avg 6.1
Player scores from official highlight analysis of each team's most recent match. Observational, not a model input. Methodology →
▸Por dentro do modelo
Model-by-model comparison
Argentina vs Egypt
| Model | Weight | Home | Draw | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EloRating-based strength estimate | 32% | 80.6% | 19.4% | 0.0% |
| Dixon-ColesGoal-process model with low-score correction | 63% | 63.2% | 26.8% | 10.0% |
| Hierarchical PoissonBayesian model with confederation pooling | 6% | 62.9% | 25.8% | 11.3% |
| Bayesian stackingLearned-weight combination | — | 76.0% | 23.6% | 0.4% |
| Ensemble (published)Uniform average + isotonic calibration | — | 68.5% | 26.0% | 5.5% |
How each model works
- Elo
- Each team carries a single strength rating updated after every match by a margin-aware K-factor. Match probabilities come from the logistic function of the rating gap. Elo is fast-adapting but coarse — it sees only who won and by how much, not how the goals were scored.
- Dixon-Coles
- A Poisson regression on team-level attack and defence parameters, fitted via maximum likelihood with an exponential time-decay weighting. The Dixon-Coles correction adjusts the four low-score cells (0-0, 1-0, 0-1, 1-1) where independent Poisson underestimates dependence. Produces full scoreline distributions, not just H/D/A.
- Hierarchical Poisson
- A Bayesian Poisson model fitted via MCMC (PyMC) with hierarchical priors that pool attack and defence parameters within confederations. Shrinks small-sample teams toward their confederation mean — helpful for nations with few recent competitive fixtures. Slower to fit but better-calibrated on the tails.
- Bayesian stacking
- Optimises simplex weights (w_elo, w_dc, w_hp) to maximise the leave-one-out log-score across a walk-forward backtest (Yao et al. 2018). The result is a weighted average of the three component models' probabilities, then isotonic-calibrated. Adds no extra features — just learns which component to trust more from historical accuracy.
- Ensemble (published)
- Equal-weight average of all three component models, followed by per-class isotonic regression calibration fitted on 24 months of walk-forward out-of-fold predictions. This is the probability published on the site. The uniform mean is deliberately simple — it avoids overfitting to the stacking weights' training window.
Three independent component models feed two combination strategies. The uniform ensemble is the published probability; Bayesian stacking uses learned weights. Amber bars flag >5pp divergence from the published number. Full methodology
Latest news & match context
- FIFA World Cup: Refereeing chief denies bias claims in Argentina-Egypt game · Al Jazeera · 9 Jul
- Stage:
- Round of 16 · Match 7
- Date:
- 7 Jul
- Venue:
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Ranked by likely importance. None of these feed the forecast: the probabilities rest on team strength, venue conditions and the style matchup.
- 1.Elimination stakes: A one-off elimination tie. Motivation, risk appetite and game management under tournament pressure are not model inputs; the forecast rests on team strength and the style matchup.
Argentina and Egypt both come in at close to full strength, so the forecast rests on baseline team strength rather than late team-news swings.
Availability from the predicted squads and injury feed; forecast adjustments from the model's own decomposition. See /docs/methodology/.
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