Substitute Hossam Abdelmaguid completed a perfect penalty shootout for Egypt with the decisive kick to knock Australia out of the World Cup 2026 and send his side to the last 16 with victory in Dallas.
Harry Souttar sent his penalty over the target and Lucas Herrington struck the crossbar with his effort as the victors secured their first-ever knockout-stage win at the World Cup, having won for the first time at the finals at the ninth attempt during the group stage.
Egypt win their FIRST EVER knockout match at a World Cup as Australia come up short on penalties 🇪🇬
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 3, 2026
Just look at how much it means… pic.twitter.com/az1O7ZY2PX
Egypt talisman Mohamed Salah, who scored with a panenka in the shootout, laughed at the prospect of facing fellow icon Lionel Messi and Argentina in the last 16, telling BBC Sport that it was important to “respect each team” involved in the holders’s last-32 tie against Cape Verde later on Friday.
Emam Ashour scored his second goal of the finals with powerful 13th-minute header from Karim Hafez’s inviting cross to initially put the Pharaohs on course to advance, but a momentum shift in the second half kept the contest fiercely comptetitive.
13 and counting 👀
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 3, 2026
There have now been more own goals at the 2026 World Cup than in any other World Cup campaign… pic.twitter.com/VVYXLWyXHb
Australia had threatened early through Cristian Volpato, whose fierce long-range strike clipped the top of the crossbar after five minutes, but struggled to create clear opportunities until they drew level through Mohamed Hany’s own goal 10 minutes after half-time.
Egypt will face Messi’s side or the Blue Sharks, who meet at 23:00 BST, in Atlanta on Tuesday (17:00 BST)
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World Cup 2026: Australia vs Egypt penalties drama
With Salah starting despite fitness concerns, the most successful team in Africa dominated possession for long periods of the opening half and looked comfortable after taking the lead, although they did not have an attempt on target between their goal and a brilliant Patrick Beach save to keep out Ramy Rabia’s header five minutes into second-half added time.
Egypt now have their first ever World Cup knockout win 🇪🇬
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 3, 2026
This was the moment Emam Ashour put them in front against the Socceroos… pic.twitter.com/Og57j5hh2H
Ashour remained a constant threat, while Omar Marmoush’s movement caused problems for Australia’s defence as Egypt sought a second goal before the interval.
The Socceroos were dealt a further setback when defender Jordan Bos was forced off through injury at the break, prompting an early reshuffle from coach Tony Popovic.
Egypt had a golden opportunity to double their lead immediately after the restart when Marmoush was played through on goal but steered his close-range finish wide of a post.
The miss proved significant as Australia gradually grew back into the game.
What's better… the goal or the celebration? 😅 pic.twitter.com/Hjy8HjXQLy
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 3, 2026
After surviving another scare when Mohamed Hany required treatment following a heavy collision in his own penalty area, Popovic’s side equalised a set-piece.
Connor O’Neill’s dangerous free-kick delivery from the left caused confusion inside the Egypt penalty area, and Hany inadvertently glanced a header into the top corner of his own net.
The own goal was the 13th of the tournament and the second credited to Hany during this World Cup campaign.
After Beach denied Rabia with a sensational stop, extra time proved forgettable. Mahmoud Saber then beat Maty Ryan – on for Beach during the closing stages of extra time – with Egypt’s first spot kick, setting the tone for his team to prevail.
Jackson Irvine and Awer Mabil converted penalties for Australia, with Rabia also netting for Egypt.
World Cup 2026: Australia team vs Egypt
Australia named an unchanged side from their 0-0 draw with Paraguay on matchday three, making defender Herrington their youngest ever player to start a World Cup knockout match, at 18 years and 301 days of age.
Full-back Jacob Italiano (groin) and midfielder Mathew Leckie (leg) were ruled out of the campaign through injury.
Australia starting XI: Patrick Beach, Alessandro Circati, Harry Souttar, Lucas Herrington, Jordan Bos, Jackson Irvine, Aiden O’Neill, Aziz Behich, Cristian Volpato, Nestory Irankunda, Connor Metcalfe
Australia substitutes: Mathew Ryan, Milos Degenek, Jason Geria, Mohamed Touré, Ajdin Hrustic, Awer Mabil, Paul Izzo, Cameron Devlin, Kai Trewin, Cameron Burgess, Nishan Velupillay, Paul Okon-Engstler, Tete Yengi
World Cup 2026: Egypt team vs Argentina
Egypt made five changes from their 1-1 draw with Iran, bringing in Hafez, Marwan Attia, Yasser Ibrahim, Hamdi Fathy and Marmoush.
Wideman Ahmed Fatouh was out with a hamstring tear, as was centre-back Mohamed Abdelmonem with severe ankle bruising.
Saber, Trezeguet and the banned Mohanad Lasheen also made way. Salah had been a doubt after being substituted after 57 minutes against Iran with a hamstring injury.
Egypt starting XI: Mostafa Shobeir, Mohamed Hany, Yasser Ibrahim, Ramy Rabia, Karim Hafez, Emam Ashour, Hamdi Fathy, Marwan Attia, Omar Marmoush, Mohamed Salah, Mostafa Zico
Egypt substitutes: Mohamed El Shenawy, Hossam Abdelmaguid, Trezeguet, Hamza Abdelkarim, Haissem Hassan, El Mahdy Soliman, Nabil Emad Dunga, Ibrahim Adel, Mahmoud Saber, Tarek Alaa, Zizo, Mohamed Alaa
World Cup 2026: Australia v Egypt stats
- Egypt scored more goals in three-and-a-half matches at this World Cup (six) than they had managed in seven prior games at the finals (five)
- With an average age of 30 years and 67 days, this was Egypt’s second-oldest ever World Cup starting side, after their 2018 group stage loss to Saudi Arabia (30y 218d)
- It was also the oldest by any African side in a knockout game
- Salah’s side had 70% of the ball during the first 15 minutes
- Hany’s own goal ensured this tournament has witnessed the most own goals ever during a single World Cup
- Australia’s preceding stalemate with Paraguay was their first 0-0 draw at the tournament since an encounter with Chile in 1974
- A return of two goals during the 2026 group stage equalled Australia’s fewest during a World Cup group stage since not scoring any in 1974
- Jackson Irvine (11 appearances) is the third player to reach 10 games for the Australia at the tournament, after Leckie (11) and Mathew Ryan (10)
- This was the first time Egypt had reached the knockout rounds after playing in a group stage
- Saber’s goal after four minutes and 26 seconds against Iran was Egypt’s fastest in their World Cup history
- Mostafa Shobeir is the second Egypt goalkeeper to save a penalty in a World Cup match, after Essam El Hadary, who did so against Saudi Arabia in 2018
- Salah is the first Egypt player to make at least five World Cup starts (now on 6), although the time the forward played against Iran represented his fewest by 19 minutes in a World Cup match
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