Salah awaits Messi as Egypt beats Australia on penalties at World Cup | World Cup 2026 news

Hossam Abdelmaguid scored the winning penalty as Egypt made history by beating Australia 4-2 on penalties to reach the World Cup last 16.

A tense encounter on Friday in which Egypt and their captain Mohamed Salah wasted better chances ended 1-1 after 120 minutes in Texas.

Lionel Messi’s Argentina are on course to travel to Egypt, provided the hosts avoid a major upset with rivals Cape Verde in the last 32.

The Pharaohs will still be celebrating reaching this stage of the World Cup for the first time.

Australian coach Tony Popovic threw at experienced goalkeeper Mathew Ryan in the penalty shootout in the final.

As the Egyptian fans cheered and the whistle blew, defender Harry Souttar fired home the first penalty to put the Socceroos back on the scoresheet.

The next five players all scored, including Salah with a cool penalty, before 18-year-old Australian defender Lucas Herrington hit the bar.

Abdelmaguid kept his cool to send the Egyptian away from Salah in tears of joy and break Australia’s hearts.

Emam Ashour gave the seven-time African champions the lead from a header after 13 minutes at the Dallas Cowboys’ cool home.

The early goal put the advantage on the shy Australian striker who had only two shots in the group stage to strike in front of a crowd of 70,000.

With Salah out of form after suffering an injury last season in Egypt, the Socceroos equalized 10 minutes after half-time when Mohamed Hany headed into his own net.

Both teams recognized history, having never won a knockout match at the men’s World Cup, and went to extra time after Egypt’s struggles.

With nothing to divide them they went to punishment.

Popovic’s side almost took the lead less than five minutes later when Cristian Volpato – who moved to Australia from Italy on the eve of the World Cup – hit the top of the crossbar.

Egypt, who won the World Cup for the first time in the group stage when they beat New Zealand 3-1, looked nervous at the back.

Little by little the pace of the game Hossam Hassan’s men took the lead.

Australian midfielder Nestory Irankunda failed to handle Ashour, who headed home from Karim Hafez’s cross for his second goal of the tournament.

The Socceroos had their first shot on target 10 minutes before the break when defender Aziz Behich fired a powerful shot past goalkeeper Mostafa Shoubir.

His father, Ahmed, played for Egypt in the 1990 World Cup.

Salah, the 34-year-old talisman, who entered the game with a hip injury, was inactive for the first 45 minutes.

The half ended with Jordan Bos, one of the fastest players in the tournament, having to deal with a flying challenge from Rabia.

The winger had to be helped off the field and was replaced by Kai Trewin at half-time to boost Australia’s hopes.

Seconds after the restart it should have been 2-0 when Manchester City’s Egyptian striker Omar Marmoush brought down the ball from close range.

The Egyptian coach said he was wary of Australia’s reaction, and it looked like Hany was headed to his net from the Socceroos’ penalty shootout.

This was Hany’s second goal of the tournament.

Former Liverpool star Salah remained on the sidelines but played his part in the build-up as Australian stopper Patrick Beach made a long-range save to keep Ramy out and force another 30 minutes.

Egypt finished the period strongly and with Salah’s early shot wide of his weak right foot, penalties seemed inevitable.

Salah though proved to be reliable in shooting as Egypt won.

Egypt will face the winner of the last 32 match between Argentina and Cape Verde in Atlanta in the next round on Tuesday.