AT&T Stadium, Arlington/Dallas, 3 July 2026: Egypt are through to the last 16 of the World Cup after a gruelling evening. The Pharaohs defeated Australia 4:2 in the penalty shootout in the round of 32, after both regular time and extra time had ended 1:1. For Egypt, it was their first-ever World Cup knockout-round victory — for Australia, another bitter exit from the knockout round, their sixth without a single win.
Ashour strikes early — Hany puts through his own net
Egypt seized the initiative from the outset. In the 13th minute, Emam Ashour Metwally Abdelghany headed home to break the deadlock — Karim Hafez had kept the move alive with a precise delivery that the Al-Ahly midfielder finished clinically: 0:1. Australia could find little answer to Egypt's compact 4-4-2 in the first half.
Shortly after the break, an unfortunate moment made it 0:2: Mohamed Hany turned Aiden O'Neill's free kick delivery into his own top-right corner in the 55th minute — an own goal. It was Hany's second own goal of the tournament, making him, according to broadcast reports, only the second player in World Cup history to achieve that feat in a single tournament — and the first to do so in 60 years. Australia now faced a daunting task, needing two goals to force extra time.
Extra time goalless — penalty shootout decides
The Socceroos battled back, pulled one back in regular time, and after 120 minutes the scoreline read 1:1. Extra time brought no further goals, but did produce two yellow cards for Egypt: Hassan in the 105th minute, and Ibrahim shortly before the end in the 120th. Australia manager Tony Popovic made a tactical goalkeeping change late in extra time, introducing experienced veteran Mat Ryan in place of starter Patrick Beach.
The penalty shootout unfolded as an eight-act drama. Mahmoud Saber opened for Egypt in the 121st minute — 0:3 in the running total. Australia's John Souttar missed his effort. Jackson Irvine converted for the Socceroos in the 122nd minute to make it 1:3, before Ramy Rabia replied immediately for Egypt: 1:4. Awer Mabil pulled it back to 2:4 for Australia in the 123rd minute. Then Mohamed Salah stepped up — despite a hamstring tear sustained in the group-stage match against Iran, manager Hossam Hassan had named him in the starting eleven — and chipped the ball Panenka-style down the centre as Ryan dived to his right: 2:5. Hossam Abdelmaguid applied the finishing touch in the 124th minute with a composed strike low to the left: 2:6, and Egypt were through.
Historic significance and what comes next
The 2026 World Cup features 48 teams across 12 groups of four for the first time. Thirty-two sides advance to the knockout rounds — twelve group winners, twelve runners-up, and the eight best third-placed finishers. The round of 32 is therefore the first knockout round, and the last 16 the second. Egypt have cleared this new hurdle to become the first North African side to reach the World Cup knockout rounds in a considerable time. In the last 16, they face either Argentina or Cabo Verde. Australia, meanwhile, continue to wait for their first World Cup knockout-round victory.
