Egypt: Egypt reached the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the first time in its history after defeating Australia 4-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw on Friday evening at Dallas Stadium in the Round of 32. With this result, the Pharaohs will face the winner of the Argentina-Cape Verde match, which will be played later at Miami Stadium, in the next round on Tuesday.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, Egypt became the second Arab team to qualify for this stage after Morocco, which also advanced on penalties after defeating the Netherlands earlier. The Egyptian team controlled the game from the start, but without creating any significant scoring opportunities. The first chance of the match fell to Australia in the fifth minute, with a left-footed shot from outside the penalty area by Cristian Volpato that struck the crossbar.
From the first real chance on the Australian goal, Emam Ashour opened the scoring for Egypt with a header in the 14th minute, capitalizing on a cross from Karim Hafez, which he directed past the goalkeeper. Australia pressed hard in the following minutes, searching for an equalizer, but the Egyptian defense closed down all avenues to their goal. Mostafa Shobeir made a save from a low shot by Aziz Behich from the edge of the penalty area in the 35th minute.
In the second half, Egypt almost doubled their lead in the opening minute when Omar Marmoush received a pass from Mohamed Salah behind the Australian defense, but he shot wide of the left post. Australia then launched an attack, pinning Egypt back, and managed to equalize in the 55th minute with an own goal. Mohamed Hany inadvertently headed the ball into his own net while attempting to clear a cross from a free kick taken by Oden O'Neill.
This was Mohamed Hany's second own goal of the tournament, following his own goal against Belgium, making him only the second player to score two own goals in a single World Cup, after Bulgaria's Ivan Vutsov in 1966. As the game progressed, Australia gained the upper hand, dominating possession and capitalizing on the Egyptian players' waning performance, who showed signs of fatigue. Australia tried to find a way through the Egyptian defense.
Egypt came close to snatching a winning goal in the 94th minute when Mohamed Salah delivered a cross that Ramy Rabia met with a header, but the Australian goalkeeper made a save. Moments later, the defense blocked a shot from substitute Haitham Hassan that was heading towards the goal. The Egyptian national team regained its momentum in extra time, asserting its dominance and launching a series of attacks, but the score remained unchanged. Uruguayan referee Gustavo Tejera then blew the final whistle, sending the match to penalties, which Egypt won 4-2.