Messi on board: Passenger streams Argentina vs Egypt match mid-air, entire flight joins in – Watch | Off the field News

One passenger’s decision to buy in-flight Wi-Fi turned an ordinary flight into a football watch party, as fellow travellers gathered around a single laptop to watch Argentina’s FIFA World Cup round-of-16 match against Egypt.The video was shared on X, with footage showing how one passenger’s laptop became the centre of attention during the flight.In the clip, the passenger stood near the front of the cabin with his laptop held above his head, streaming the Argentina vs Egypt match after purchasing the flight’s Wi-Fi service. As the game progressed, passengers seated nearby leaned into the aisle to catch a glimpse of the screen.Within minutes, more people joined in. Some leaned forward from their seats while others stood in the aisle for a better view, turning part of the cabin into a makeshift viewing area.The passenger continued holding the laptop throughout the match as fellow travellers watched closely. Some quietly cheered whenever Argentina created a chance.The caption with the video read, “A guy bought WiFi to watch the Argentina vs Egypt game on the plane. And the 187 passengers ended up crowding around to listen to the live match.”In the match, Lionel Messi’s Argentina scripted a miraculous comeback to register victory over the Egypt.Trailing 2-0 against Egypt with 11 minutes of regulation time remaining on Tuesday, the defending champions scored three late goals to win 3-2 and book a place in the quarter-finals.“We have a phenomenal group, a group that never gives up no matter the difficulties and adversity. We’re always together,” said Enzo Fernandez, who scored the winning goal in stoppage time.Argentina will face Switzerland in the quarter-finals on Saturday (loal time) in Kansas City, Missouri.

For much of the match, it looked as though Lionel Messi’s World Cup journey could end in the round of 16 in what could be the sixth and final World Cup of his career.Argentina were close to elimination, with their hopes of becoming the first team since Brazil in 1958 and 1962 to win back-to-back World Cup titles fading before producing a late turnaround.“The heart of Argentinians is always something that pushes, that we keep going no matter what, that we give everything until the end. And honestly, with the score 2-0, we looked a bit beaten,” Argentina striker Julian Alvarez said. “There was little time left, but we always manage to get something more by fighting until the end.”Cristian Romero began the comeback with a header in the 79th minute. Messi, who was seen in tears after the final whistle, equalised in the 83rd minute with his eighth goal of the tournament and a record-extending 21st World Cup goal before Fernandez scored the winner in stoppage time.