- Safiu Kehinde
Egypt has advanced to the last 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup as they knocked out Australia via penalties.
The Pharaoh’s fate would be decided from the spot kick after being held to 1-1 draw all through the 120 minutes of the Round of 32 match.
Egypt’s win saw them become the second African country to advance to the last 16 after Morocco.
The North African country established early dominance over Australia with Emam Ashour opening the scoring after 13 minutes.
Ashour headed home a Karim Hafez’s cross to give Egypt an early lead.
Australia struggled to get back into the game but the Socceroos were unable to break through the Egyptians defence in the first 45 minutes.
The second half however saw Egypt gifting away their lead as Australia equalised in the 55th minute.
Egypt’s Mohamed Hany again emerged as the Pharaohs’ scapegoat with his second own goal of the tournament after heading Aiden O’Neill’s free-kick into his own net.
The equaliser brought the game to levels term before the end of the 90 minutes full-time.
With both countries failing to find the back of the net all through the 30 minutes extra-time, the game advanced to penalty shootout.
Harry Souttar stepped up for the Aussies first kick which he shockingly lost as he skyrocketed the spotkick.
Egypt’s Mahmoud Saber capitalised on the miss as he converted the Pharaohs first penalty to give them 1-0 lead.
Jackson Irvine revived the Socceroos hope as he sent Egyptian goalkeeper the wrong way in well converted penalty.
The hope would however be dented as Ramy Rabia put Egypt back on the lead from the spot.
Australian fans were once again had their hoped raised as Awer Mabil scored the third penalty.
However, the Socceroos goalkeeper, Ryan, who was brought in late in the second-half with the hope of making heroic spot kick saves, faltered again as Egypt’s captain and talisman, Mohammed Salah restored the North African country’s lead.
With each team having two regular penalty kicks left, Australian teenager, Lucas Herrington, stepped up to keep the Aussies in the game.
Herrington unfortunately dashed Australia’s hope as his effort hit the woodwork, giving Egypt a golden opportunity to book their spot in the last 16.
Hossam Abdelmaguid took the Egyptians to the next round as he sent Ryan the wrong way to send Egyptians in the Texas stadium into wild jubilation.
Egypt’s first win in a knockout game at the World Cup set up a last-16 meeting with Argentina or Cape Verde in Atlanta on Tuesday.
Argentina and debutant African country will meet in Miami later on Friday.