EGYPT overcame Australia 4-2 on penalties in Dallas tonight to claim their first-ever win in the World Cup knockout stage and reach the round of 16.
Regulation time and extra-time had ended 1-1.
With the victory, Egypt became the second African team after Morocco to advance to the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup.
Defender Hossam Abdelmaguid scored the decisive spot-kick for the Pharaohs, who won the shootout 4-2 after Harry Souttar and Lucas Herrington missed their efforts for Australia.
Egypt took the lead against the run of play at the Dallas Stadium in their first knockout match since 1934 when an unmarked Emam Ashour powered in Karim Hafez’s right-wing cross beyond Patrick Beach after 13 minutes.
His second goal of the tournament meant his side have scored more goals at these finals (six) than they managed across their previous three appearances in 1934, 1990 and 2018.
It could have been a different story for Australia had Cristian Volpato’s 25-yard effort from outside of the area not clipped the top of the crossbar after five minutes.
After winning only one of their previous 15 World Cup matches when conceding first, it was always going to be a difficult task for the Socceroos.
They had chances to restore parity, with the most inviting coming nine minutes before the break when the ball dropped to Aziz Behich inside the area following a set-piece.
However, the Melbourne City defender – who has scored only three times in 87 internationals – was unable to provide a finish past Mostafa Shobeir.
Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush spurned a glorious opportunity to double Egypt’s lead within 10 seconds of the second half as he rolled a shot wide when through.
They were made to regret that miss 10 minutes later when Egypt defender Mohamed Hany diverted Aiden O’Neill’s free-kick from the left past Shobeir, becoming only the second player in World Cup history to score two own goals at a single tournament.
Australia – the last remaining nation from the Asian federation – survived a late scare to force extra-time when keeper Beach remarkably twisted in the air to stretch out a left hand to deny Ramy Rabia, who met a 94th-minute Mohamed Salah cross with a thumping header.
Salah, who started the game after a hamstring concern, then teed up Haissem Hassan, but his goalbound effort was blocked by Souttar.
The tie remained level after extra time, but Egypt held their nerve in a tense shootout, with Salah among his side’s scorers.
With agency report
