Opponent forced to leave the field due to torn shorts, World Cup star seizes the opportunity to score a superb goal, giving Egypt a historic victory.
Mohamed Salah scores the most controversial goal of the 2026 World Cup: Opponent forced to change shorts due to a “wardrobe malfunction,” Egypt immediately punishes him.
Mohamed Salah played a major role in Egypt’s 3-1 victory over New Zealand, securing their first World Cup win in history. However, the 34-year-old star’s goal is causing much controversy.
The Group G match unfolded in a surprising way. New Zealand took the lead in the first half thanks to a header from Finn Surman, putting Egypt at risk of extending their winless streak in the World Cup.
The turning point came in the 58th minute when Mostafa Ziko headed in the equalizer for the African team. But the most talked-about incident of the match occurred a few minutes later. Ben Old, a substitute for New Zealand, unexpectedly suffered a rare incident when his shorts ripped in a sensitive area. According to the rules, players are not allowed to continue playing in substandard attire, so Ben Old was forced to leave the field to change his shorts.
Mohamed Salah vừa góp công lớn giúp Ai Cập đánh bại New Zealand 3-1 để giành chiến thắng đầu tiên trong lịch sử các kỳ World Cup. Tuy nhiên, bàn thắng của ngôi sao 34 tuổi lại đang gây ra nhiều tranh cãi.
Trận đấu thuộc bảng G diễn ra theo kịch bản đầy bất ngờ. New Zealand là đội vượt lên dẫn trước trong hiệp một nhờ pha đánh đầu của Finn Surman, khiến Ai Cập đối mặt nguy cơ tiếp tục nối dài chuỗi trận không thắng ở World Cup.
Bước ngoặt xuất hiện ở phút 58 khi Mostafa Ziko đánh đầu gỡ hòa 1-1 cho đại diện châu Phi. Nhưng tình huống gây bàn tán nhất trận đấu lại đến ít phút sau đó. Ben Old, cầu thủ vào sân từ ghế dự bị của New Zealand, bất ngờ gặp sự cố hy hữu khi chiếc quần thi đấu bị rách ở vị trí nhạy cảm. Theo quy định, cầu thủ không được phép tiếp tục thi đấu với trang phục không đạt tiêu chuẩn nên Ben Old buộc phải rời sân để thay quần.
Old’s trousers were torn after a collision with an Egyptian defender (Photo: ITV)
With New Zealand reduced to 10 men, Egypt immediately capitalized. Mohamed Salah combined with Mostafa Ziko before finishing to give Egypt a 2-1 lead. This goal immediately sparked controversy, with many New Zealand fans arguing their team was disadvantaged by an off-field incident.
However, the goal was perfectly legitimate and was awarded. In the final minutes, New Zealand pressed forward in search of an equalizer but were unsuccessful. Instead, they suffered a final blow when Mahmoud Trezeguet headed in the winning goal, securing a 3-1 victory after a corner kick assist from Salah.
Egypt achieves historic victory at the 2026 World Cup (Photo: Getty)
This victory makes history for Egypt as they win their first World Cup ever. Coach Hossam Hassan’s team currently leads Group G with 4 points after two matches, opening the door to the knockout round.
For Salah, this continues to be a memorable World Cup. After two matches, the Egyptian captain has scored 1 goal and provided 2 assists, becoming the driving force in the North African team’s journey to conquer this historic milestone.
But perhaps what fans will remember most about this match is the rare moment: a player had to run off the field to change his shorts due to a “wardrobe malfunction,” and immediately his team conceded a goal to Mohamed Salah.
