Egypt defeated Australia 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regular and extra time Friday to reach the World Cup round of 16 for the first time in the nation’s history. The match took place at AT&T Stadium in Dallas during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Egypt took the lead in the 13th minute. Emam Ashour rose behind the Australian defense and headed Karim Hafez’s cross into the bottom left corner. The goal gave the Pharaohs momentum as they controlled much of the first half.
Australia pushed forward after the break. In the 55th minute, Mohamed Hany turned the ball into his own net to level the score at 1-1. Both teams created chances but failed to score again, which forced the game into extra time.
Neither side broke the deadlock during the additional 30 minutes. Defenses stood firm while fatigue set in. The contest moved to a penalty shootout, where composure under pressure decided the outcome.
Egypt converted all four of its penalties. Mohamed Salah scored with a Panenka-style chip. Other successful takers included Ramy Rabia and Mahmoud Saber. Hossam Abdelmaguid struck the decisive fourth penalty.
Australia scored twice but missed two efforts. Harry Souttar and Lucas Herrington failed to convert. The Egyptian goalkeeper performed key saves that shifted the momentum.
Egypt’s coach expressed pride in the team’s resilience. “The players showed great character throughout the match and in the shootout,” he said after the game.
Salah highlighted the moment. “This win means everything to Egypt. We fought as a team and delivered when it mattered,” the forward stated.
The victory marked Egypt’s first World Cup knockout stage success. The Pharaohs will next face the winner of the Argentina versus Cape Verde match.
