No previous meetings between these teams.
-
1
Connor Metcalfe1 - 2Nestory Irankunda1
- 3
Trezeguet1 - 4Mohamed Salah1
- 5Mahmoud Saber1
- 6Mostafa Zico1
- 7Emam Ashour1
- 1Omar Marmoush9
- 2Mohamed Salah7
- 3Mostafa Zico7
- 4Trezeguet6
- 5Jordan Bos5
- 6Emam Ashour5
- 7Nestory Irankunda4
- 8Mohamed Hany4
- 9Connor Metcalfe3
- 10Zizo3
- 1Mohanad Lasheen10
- 2Mohamed Hany9
- 3Alessandro Circati6
- 4Yasser Ibrahim5
- 5Ahmed Fatouh5
- 6Connor Metcalfe3
- 7Omar Marmoush3
- 8Aiden O'Neill3
- 9Jordan Bos3
- 10Paul Okon-Engstler3
- 1Mohamed Salah2
- 2Trezeguet1
- 3Mohamed Hany1
- 4Mostafa Zico1
- 5Paul Okon-Engstler1
- 1Mohamed Salah11
- 2Ahmed Fatouh4
- 3Cristian Volpato4
- 4Jordan Bos4
- 5Mostafa Zico4
- 6Marwan Attia3
- 7Mohamed Hany3
- 8Aiden O'Neill3
- 9Emam Ashour3
- 10Connor Metcalfe2
- 1Marwan Attia172
- 2Yasser Ibrahim147
- 3Mohanad Lasheen142
- 4Ahmed Fatouh139
- 5Ramy Rabia129
- 6Harry Souttar122
- 7Mohamed Hany112
- 8Alessandro Circati102
- 9Aiden O'Neill97
- 10Emam Ashour88
- 1Cristian Volpato8
- 2Omar Marmoush7
- 3Jordan Bos7
- 4Trezeguet4
- 5Mohamed Salah3
- 6Ahmed Fatouh3
- 7Jacob Italiano3
- 8Aiden O'Neill3
- 9Alessandro Circati3
- 10Mohamed Touré2
- 1Mohamed Hany4
- 2Mohanad Lasheen4
- 3Paul Okon-Engstler4
- 4Ahmed Fatouh3
- 5Hamdi Fathy3
- 6Ramy Rabia3
- 7Cameron Burgess2
- 8Marwan Attia2
- 9Yasser Ibrahim2
- 10Jason Geria2
Egypt face a historic opportunity when they take on Australia in the Round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup on Friday. Kick-off is scheduled for 7pm (UK time) on Friday 3rd July at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Dallas.
Egypt made history in the group phase by recording their first-ever World Cup victory – a 3-1 win over New Zealand – before drawing with Belgium and Iran to finish second in Group G. Australia advanced from Group D as runners-up, beating Turkey 2-0 on matchday one before drawing with Paraguay to secure their place in the knockout rounds. Australia have never won a World Cup knockout match, losing to Italy in 2006 and eventual champions Argentina in 2022. One side makes history on Friday – the question is which one.
Australia vs Egypt predictions & betting tips
| Our Prediction | Odds & Bookmaker | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mohamed Salah to score anytime | 5/2 @ Virgin Bet (28.6%) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Salah carries 116 caps and 67 international goals into this fixture and has already scored at this tournament. He had a hand in five of Egypt’s six group-stage goal contributions, underlining his total dominance of this Egyptian side’s attacking output. Australia failed to score in two of their three group games and will be stretched defending Salah’s movement alongside Marmoush’s creativity. At the available price, Salah remains the standout anytime scorer selection in Dallas. |
| Egypt to win and under 2.5 goals | 16/5 @ BOYLE Sports (23.8%) | ⭐⭐ | Egypt kept a clean sheet in five of six qualifying matches and conceded zero goals across the entire AFCON qualifying campaign. Australia failed to score in two of their three group games and their heavy reliance on domestic and lower-league European players is a quality concern at this level. Egypt’s blueprint – controlled possession, Salah’s individual quality, defensive solidity – points firmly toward a low-scoring win. |
Odds correct at time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
How both teams head into Australia vs Egypt
Australia
Australia started the tournament by beating Turkey 2-0, before battling through a draw with Paraguay to secure progression into the last 32 as Group D runners-up behind the United States. Tony Popovic’s side showed real defensive organisation throughout the group stage, conceding just twice across three matches. That compact, well-structured shape has been the Socceroos’ most consistent feature – and it will need to be at its absolute best to contain Salah and Marmoush in Dallas.
Australia have never won a World Cup knockout match, and that statistic weighs heavily on a squad desperate to rewrite history after coming agonisingly close against Argentina in Qatar 2022. Popovic has built a side that relies on collective organisation and pace on the counter – the same qualities that have carried Australia deep into tournaments before. The pace of Nestory Irankunda and Awer Mabil from wide areas gives Australia their most dangerous counter-attacking weapons on Friday.
The tactical puzzle for Popovic centres on containing Salah operating against Australia’s right-side defensive unit. If the Socceroos can keep Egypt’s talisman quiet and force Hassan’s side to find goals from elsewhere, Australia remain very much in this contest. That is a significant ‘if’ – but knockout football has a habit of rewarding well-organised sides prepared to defend and strike when the moment arrives.
Egypt
Egypt have already made history at this World Cup simply by advancing past the group stage for the first time in the country’s tournament history. Hossam Hassan’s side drew 1-1 with Belgium, beat New Zealand 3-1 and drew 1-1 with Iran to finish second in Group G – an unbeaten record that reflects a squad growing in confidence with every passing match. Five different players scored across those three games, demonstrating that Egypt’s threat does not begin and end with Salah.
Salah’s fitness remains the single most significant question surrounding Egypt ahead of Friday. The former Liverpool forward was substituted in the 57th minute against Iran and was seen having his left leg bandaged on the touchline. Egypt have insisted their captain will be fit for Dallas, but the uncertainty surrounding his involvement casts a shadow over what should be the tournament’s most straightforward selection decision.
Omar Marmoush of Manchester City provides a high-quality alternative central option, and the combination of the two gives Egypt an attacking pair that very few Round of 32 opponents can match. The winner of this fixture faces Argentina or Cape Verde in the Round of 16 in Atlanta on 7 July. For a nation returning to the World Cup knockout stage for the first time, that prospect alone will drive Egypt’s intensity from the opening whistle.
Australia team news
Tony Popovic has a largely settled squad available for the knockout tie. Jackson Irvine provides leadership and energy through the middle. Jason Geria, Harry Souttar, Milos Degenek and Aziz Behich are expected to continue at the back, with Geria’s right-back role particularly significant given the direct challenge Salah will pose on that flank.
Irankunda and Mabil provide pace from wide areas, with Connor Metcalfe offering an additional midfield goal threat from deep.
Egypt team news
Salah’s fitness is the dominant team news story heading into Friday’s fixture. The former Liverpool forward was substituted in the 57th minute of the Iran draw after appearing to feel something in his left leg. Egypt’s medical staff have been cautiously optimistic, but his status remains the most consequential team news question of any Round of 32 fixture.
Mohamed El Shenawy continues in goal behind a back four of Ahmed Fatouh, Mohamed Abdelmonem, Yasser Ibrahim and Mohamed Hany. Hamdy Fathy and Emam Ashour anchor the midfield, with Trézéguet, Ibrahim Adel and Mahmoud Saber providing attacking support. Marmoush leads the line.
Head-to-Head
Australia and Egypt have met just once previously – a 3-0 Egypt win in a Cairo friendly in November 2010. Friday’s Round of 32 in Dallas is the first competitive meeting between the two nations.
Which side will continue their World Cup dream?
Both nations enter Friday’s fixture knowing the stakes could not be higher. The winner faces Argentina or Cape Verde in the Round of 16 in Atlanta. Australia carry the organisation and counter-attacking pace to trouble any opponent. Egypt carry the individual quality of Salah and the momentum of an unbeaten group campaign.
We’re backing Mohamed Salah to prove his fitness and deliver in Dallas. 5/2 with Virgin Bet for Salah to score anytime reflects his outstanding individual quality and Australia’s vulnerability to direct, creative forwards operating from wide positions.
For a combined play, Egypt to win and under 2.5 goals at 16/5 with BOYLE Sports reflects Egypt’s defensive discipline, their unbeaten group-stage record and Australia’s persistent inability to score consistently against quality opposition.
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