Egypt knock Australia out on penalties (1-1, 4-2) to reach the last 16 for the first time
Emam Ashour put Egypt ahead (13') and a Mohamed Hany own goal levelled it for Australia (55'). With no goals in extra time, the Pharaohs won the shootout 4-2 —Salah among the scorers— for a historic milestone. They await the winner of Argentina-Cape Verde.
Egypt reached the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup after knocking Australia out on penalties (1-1, 4-2) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, the retractable-roof colossus in the Dallas area that is home to the NFL's Cowboys and boasts one of the world's largest video screens suspended over the pitch. It is a historic milestone for the Pharaohs, who for the first time go beyond the group stage and into the knockout round of a World Cup.
Hossam Hassan set up a 4-4-2 with Mostafa Shobeir in goal; Mohamed Hany, Yasser Ibrahim, Rami Rabia and Karim Hafez in defence; Emam Ashour, Hamdy Fathy and Marwan Attia in midfield; and Omar Marmoush, Mohamed Salah and Mostafa Ziko up front. Opposite them, Tony Popovic went with a 3-4-2-1 with Patrick Beach in goal, Souttar and Circati at the heart of the back line and young Nestory Irankunda as the focal point. Egypt's plan bore fruit early: in the 13th minute Emam Ashour turned in a Karim Hafez pass for 0-1.
Australia responded after the break and found their reward in the cruellest way for Egypt: in the 55th minute an unfortunate own goal by Mohamed Hany —the full-back who had opened the scoring for his side moments earlier levelled it into his own net— restored parity for the Socceroos. At 1-1, the tie stretched into a goalless extra time in which neither side found a way through. It would all be settled from twelve yards.
In the shootout, Egypt did not blink. Mohamed Saber, Rami Rabia, Mohamed Salah and Hussein Abdelmaguid converted their spot-kicks, while Australia faltered twice: Harry Souttar and Lucas Herrington missed their penalties and only Jackson Irvine and Awer Mabil beat Shobeir. The Egyptian keeper turned hero and the final 4-2 sparked celebrations from a support that had waited decades for this moment.
The normal-time numbers reward Egypt's greater weight: 58% possession, 14 attempts (4 on target), seven corners and an xG of 1.36 against the 0.87 of an Australia side that barely troubled Shobeir (a single shot on target despite their 16 efforts). Emam Ashour, scorer of the goal and the engine of the midfield, was named man of the match with a 7.9 rating. Australia, who had put together a fine group stage, bow out with the feeling of having brushed against an upset. Egypt, by contrast, keep dreaming and already know that the winner of Argentina-Cape Verde awaits them in the last 16.