Egypt’s football team keeps making so much of its own history in this 2026 World Cup that an observer would think this is the norm.
Far from it.
When Egypt beat New Zealand 3-1 in the group stage, it was their first win in this, their fourth World Cup.
When Egypt reached the knockouts last week, that was also the first time they had breathed such rarified air since their first World Cup which was 92 years ago, in 1934.
And now, as Egypt are set to meet Australia in the knockouts, there is the very real possibility of going to the last 16, a place they have never ventured into before or even dared dream about.
Egypt’s personal exploits are considered ho-hum for the world’s powerhouses of the sport.
But for Egyptians, it is far from the usual.
Before getting into the weeds of the Australia matchup, one should, therefore, pause a bit and reflect on these amazing Egyptian happenings, for it would be egregious to neglect how in the world did Egypt get to this point.
The Pharaohs opened their Group G campaign with a commendable 1-1 draw against Belgium, followed by a come from behind 3-1 victory over New Zealand.
Then came Iran.
Fierce encounter
With four points, Egypt already knew before kick-off that that result and elsewhere had secured their place in the last 32, but that did little to dampen the intensity of a fiercely contested match in Seattle for the group lead.
The match, played last Saturday, had two distinct parts: a thrilling beginning and an even wilder ending.
In only the fifth minute Egypt got off to a perfect start when Mahmoud Saber fired through Alireza Beiranvand’s legs after the keeper pushed Mohamed Salah’s deflected shot into his path.
In minute 12, Iran could have tied it but Mustafa Shobeir dove the right way to stop Mehdi Taremi’s penalty after Mohamed Abdel-Monem kicked the Iran captain in the box.
But Iran were not to be denied in the 14th minute when, although Shobeir brilliantly stopped Milad Mohammadi’s shot, Ramin Rezaeian was there to slam in the rebound from a tight angle.
After that blazing beginning, both teams had their chances but it was the last few minutes that were truly memorable.
In the 89th minute Taremi rose to meet their first corner of the night and nodded against the woodwork, but a foul was given for Shobeir from Mohammadi’s challenge.
In the third minute of extra time Khalilzadeh’s goal was scratched after he was judged to be just offside when Mohammadi’s shot was blocked. The goal sparked wild celebrations by the Iranians but a VAR review showed it was a matter of millimetres.
Seven minutes after regulation, Egypt’s defender Yasser Ibrahim threw himself in the way of Rezaeian’s goal-bound blast from inside the box.
To top it off, at the death, Iran were inches away from grabbing a famous win when Saeid Ezatolahi headed against the bar from a corner.
FIFA’s format as to which 32 teams would reach the knockout stage had many complicated permutations. During the match with Iran, Belgium were playing New Zealand simultaneously in the same group. So, as the two games were being played and Belgium eventually winning 5-1, as the events unfolded, Egypt’s future hung in the balance virtually every minute:
In the 85th minute, Egypt were first in the group and were to play South Korea.
In the 90th, Egypt were second in the group and were headed for a matchup with Australia.
In 92, Egypt were in third place and were to face France.
In 93, Egypt returned to second in the group and were back to play Australia.
Consequently, going into the Round of 32, Egypt could have met anyone of three countries coming from three continents — all in eight frantic minutes.
Ultimately, Egypt finished second in the group, tied with Belgium on five points but behind on goal difference.
Jumping for joy
Though the Egypt-Iran fixture started at 6am Cairo time, that did not stop the Egyptian faithful who filled street cafes around the country, creating their own mini-fan zones.
They jumped for joy from wall-to-wall chairs when Egypt scored first, jumped higher when Shobeir blocked the penalty, then sat in frustration when Iran scored the tying goal, and were in anguish when Iran scored what looked like a late winning goal, only to return to delight moments later when the goal was ruled out for offside, triggering renewed celebrations.
At the final whistle, fans sprung from their seats in an eruption of ecstasy and celebration.
They spilled out onto the streets, cheering and clapping vociferously.
AFP reporters across the capital saw crowds streaming through the streets in cars and on motorbikes, flags fluttering from windows as chants and horn blasts marked the realisation of a long-awaited moment.
Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan described how proud he was of his team. “We’re unbeaten and we’re proud of that,” Hassan told a post-match press conference. “I said from the start that it would be a tough group stage. It’s an honour to get through to the next round. I’d like to thank my players, because they’ve brought immense joy to our fans. I’m not thinking about our next opponent; we’re ready to play against anyone. We’re capable of playing our own style of football, of adapting, respecting every opponent. We won’t be afraid of anyone.”
As for Iran, for all the challenges this squad have battled on and off the pitch at this World Cup, it would have been an incredible story if they had snatched progression to the last 32. Unbeaten in the tournament with three draws, Iran were briefly poised to advance when, in the last match of the group stage, Algeria took a 3-2 lead in stoppage time against Austria. However, the Austrians scored an equaliser in the 96th minute to send both Algeria and Austria through to the knockout stage at Iran’s expense.
The one point Egypt garnered from the game came with a toll. Salah is suffering from a hamstring strain that forced the Liverpool icon off the pitch. Him playing against Australia is in doubt.
Defender Ahmed Fattouh faces a more serious concern, a hamstring tear which will almost certainly make him unavailable.
Nice’s center-back Abdel-Monem is racing against time to feature after nursing a severe ankle bruise.
Egypt vs Iran had controversy swirling around it months before the match.
The group game fell on Seattle’s Pride weekend, and rainbow flags fluttered in the stands and on the streets outside the stadium, setting up an awkward collision between local celebrations and two nations where same-sex relations are banned by law and which violate Islamic tenets.
Seattle host committee officials insisted that the timing of the Pride match was not designed to provoke and had been planned before the draw paired Egypt and Iran. But try convincing the conspiracy theory gangs on social media and podcasts that this was simply a coincidence, a scheduling quirk that emerged only after December’s draw.
There was plenty of pushback from both countries. Egypt’s Foreign Ministry and Football Association protested that such an event clashed with the country’s cultural and religious values.
FIFA distanced itself from the festivities, emphasising that the celebrations were organised by Seattle’s local World Cup committee and not the global soccer body. But “the FIFA World Cup 2026 is an inclusive event that welcomes people from all backgrounds. Fans of all sexual orientations and gender identities are welcome at matches and events,” FIFA said in a statement.
“Rainbow flags and other flags representing sexual orientation and gender identity are permitted under the FIFA World Cup 2026 Stadium Code of Conduct and may be displayed inside stadiums.”
The coaches of both teams would not field any questions from reporters on the Pride activities before or after the game, saying they were purely focused on football.
“We are here to play football, not for other things,” Iran’s head coach Amir Ghalenoei said. “As for things that are forbidden in our religion and do not exist, we do not want to talk about them. We only talk about the match, football and the beauty of the game.”
It was a glimpse of what happens when a World Cup lands in a city celebrating one set of values, while two of the teams taking part arrive carrying very different ones of their own.
Finely poised
Back to the impending Round of 32 knockout match — when some say the World Cup really begins — between Egypt and Australia, scheduled for 3 July at 9pm Cairo time. To be played in Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the match is evenly balanced. Egypt are ranked 26th in the world and Australia 28.
The Socceroos have made seven World Cup appearances against Egypt’s four. Australia have gone to the knockouts before, but never more than that, falling to Italy in 2006 and Argentina in 2022.
Australia progressed to the knockout stage in 2026 by securing second place in Group D. Under head coach Tony Popovic, they finished the group phase with four points, sealing their qualification with a 0-0 draw against Paraguay in their final group match.
They’re through thanks largely to a surprising 2-0 opening result over Turkey. But they also fell to the tournament co-hosts US 2-0 in Seattle.
Australia’s captain, goalkeeper Mathew Ryan, is playing in his third World Cup with the team. Lucas Herrington is the youngest ever male to start for Australia at the World Cup. And Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe have tallied the only two goals in the tournament thus far for the Aussies.
Although there is a week-long gap before the 32-team elimination bracket begins, that is not long enough for injured duo Mat Leckie and Jacob Italiano, who are returning home after their recovery timelines were too long for even this generous schedule.
At the senior men’s level, Australia and Egypt have met only twice in official internationals. In 1987, the two teams played a 0-0 draw at the President’s Cup in South Korea, which Australia won 4-3 on penalty kicks. In 2010, Egypt defeated Australia 3-0 in a friendly in Cairo.
There are an estimated 15,000 Australian fans in the US for the World Cup and — maybe their reputation is proceeding them — but reports say they’ve apparently been fairly rowdy, a mischievous, good-hearted lot with a “cheerful defiance of authority”.
Both Egypt and Australia love to play defence but the Pharaohs seem to have slightly more firepower that could give them the edge.
Should Egypt get past Australia they will most likely meet Argentina who play Cape Verde in the Round of 32. The South Americans are the defending World Cup champions and are ranked the best team in the world at present.
Good luck with that.
Which is why Egyptians should savour the good times while they last.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 2 July, 2026 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.
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