Australia meet Egypt in a Round of 32 tie at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Australia and Egypt advanced to this stage as Groups D and G runner-ups respectively.
Team News
Jacob Italiano is ruled out for Australia for the remainder of the World Cup after he suffered a groin/adductor injury in training prior to their 0-0 draw against Paraguay.
Matthew Leckie is also sidelined for the remainder of the tournament with a hamstring injury, which forced him to miss the goalless draw.
Egypt could be without winger, Mohamed Salah after he suffered a hamstring injury during their 1-1 draw against Iran.
Ahmed Fattouh (hamstring) and Mohamed Abdelmonem (ankle), Hossam Abdelmaguid (concussion) and Hamad Fathy (hamstring) are also considered doubtful for selection.
When is Kick-Off?
Australia meet Egypt at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, USA, on Friday 3 July at 1pm CDT (7pm BST), live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK.
Stat Attack
- This is Australia’s first World Cup meeting against Egypt.
- Excluding penalty shootouts, Egypt are unbeaten in two previous meetings against Australia in all competitions (W1, D1) – having lost 4-3 on penalties after 0-0 draw in June 1997 in President Cup semi-final then won 3-0 in a friendly in November 2010.
- Australia kept clean sheets in two of their three Group D matches (W1, D1, L1).
- Egypt’s five goals in Group G were all scored by five separate goalscorers – Emam Ashour, Ziko, Mohamed Salah, Trezeguet and Mahmoud Saber.
Prediction
Aside from their blip against USA, Australia otherwise were pretty solid in the Group Stage but now that it is knockout stages, I would like to see them bring some more attacking fight than they have shown so far because they have a good opportunity to go deeper.
Egypt meanwhile will of been disappointed to have drawn their final group match against Iran but if Salah isn’t fit then other players must step up and deliver, otherwise this could be a tricky afternoon against a counter-attacking Australian side.
My instinct is that we’re set for a tight match but Australia’s more recent experience of knockout World Cup football might just be the difference.
Prediction: Australia 1-1 Egypt