Egypt reaches World Cup 2026 round of 16, beats Australia on penalties

Egypt advanced to the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup after defeating Australia 4‑2 in a penalty shootout. The match had ended 1‑1 after regular time and extra time, with Egypt taking the lead through Emam Ashour’s header in the 13th minute and Australia equalising when Mohamed Hany inadvertently scored an own goal in the 55th minute.

During the shootout, Egypt’s players were flawless while Australian striker Lucas Herrington missed his attempt. Egypt’s captain Mohamed Salah hailed the victory as “one of the best days of my life,” celebrating the nation’s first ever appearance at this stage of the tournament. Australia’s late goalkeeper substitution – Mathew Ryan replacing Patrick Beach – could not alter the outcome. Egypt will now meet the winner of the Argentina‑Brazil match in the next round.