Egypt players react during a penalty shootout against Australia for the World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
ARLINGTON, Texas— Regardless of what Mohamed Salah decides about his future with Egyptian soccer — more World Cups or not — the star striker can say he was the captain for the country’s first victory within the knockout round.
Hossam Abdelmaguid scored the deciding goal in a shootout, and Egypt won its debut within the elimination round of the World Cup by beating Australia 4-2 on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw within the round of 32 Friday.
READ: World Cup: Egypt’s Salah leaves Iran draw attributable to left knee injury
Australia goalkeeper Mathew Ryan didn’t stop any of Egypt’s 4 shots after replacing starter Patrick Beach late in time beyond regulation.
The victory is available in Egypt’s fourth World Cup, the primary one with an expanded field of 48. Australia is now 0-3 within the knockout round.
Egypt will next face defending champion Argentina, which beat Cape Verde 3-2 in time beyond regulation Friday night, within the round of 16 on Tuesday in Atlanta.
“Me feeling today is that it’s incredible,” said Salah, the 34-year-old former Liverpool player who’s one behind national team coach Hossam Hassan’s Egyptian record of 69 international goals. “I all the time like seeing the boys comfortable and having fun with the moment. Nothing can match that. So today was among the best days of my life.”
Harry Souttar opened the shootout by missing high for Australia, and 18-year-old Lucas Herrington hit the crossbar with the fourth try and arrange Abdelmaguid’s clincher for the Pharaohs.
Egypt’s Emam Ashour (8) scores their first goal in the course of the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Australia and Egypt in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
The 25-year-old Abdelmaguid, who doesn’t have a world goal in 15 appearances, went low left as Ryan dived to the defender’s right, setting off a raucous celebration amongst 70,244 fans on the sold-out home of the Dallas Cowboys, loads of them wearing Egyptian red.
Egypt didn’t also have a victory within the World Cup before beating Recent Zealand 3-1 within the group stage lower than two weeks ago.
READ: World Cup: Salah, Egypt down Recent Zealand 3-1 for first win
“I used to be only fascinated by the Egyptian fans,” Hassan said through an interpreter. “During all the time and in the course of the penalty shootout, I used to be just praying, ‘God, please make the Egyptian people comfortable.’ Even before the penalty shootout, to be honest.”
Egypt’s other shootout scorers were Mahmoud Saber, Ramy Rabia and Salah, who played every minute of regulation and time beyond regulation despite a hamstring injury sustained within the team’s group finale.
Jackson Irvine and Awer Mabil scored within the shootout for Australia.
“Once I went to the players and talked to them, I desired to take some pressure off,” Hassan said. “Don’t have a look at the pressure. Just let every part out, don’t take into consideration anything. Take into consideration your penalty kick. Don’t even think concerning the goalkeeper. Just take into consideration your kick.”
Emam Ashour gave Egypt the lead in regulation by scoring within the thirteenth minute with a header that beat Beach just contained in the near post. Australia evened the match within the fifty fifth when Egypt defender Mohamed Hany became the primary player to attain two own-goals in the identical World Cup.
The own-goal got here when Aiden O’Neill took a free kick from left of the penalty area and Hany headed the ball past goalkeeper Mostafa Shoubir for a spot in World Cup infamy. His other own-goal got here in a 1-1 draw with Belgium within the group stage.
Lower than 10 minutes earlier, Hany was down near the identical spot after colliding with Connor Metcalfe on the Australia midfielder’s header attempt. Medical personnel tended to Hany with a stretcher waiting nearby, but he was helped up and stayed on after what gave the impression to be a concussion check.
Australia’s only scoring in World Cup knockout rounds has been two own-goals. The Socceroos lost to Italy 1-0 in 2006 and lost to Argentina 2-1 4 years ago in Qatar. The goal against Argentina was an own-goal.
“It hurts if you get that close,” Australia coach Tony Popovic said. “Unfortunately, we bow out in a penalty shootout, so it’s difficult to take right away.”
Omar Marmoush had an ideal likelihood to present Egypt a two-goal lead within the opening seconds of the second half, but he sent a shot wide.
The late goalkeeper switch to the 34-year-old Ryan, for his a hundred and fifth international appearance, got here despite several strong saves from the 22-year-old Beach, who was playing in just his sixth game for the Socceroos.
Beach made a sprawling save on a header from Rabia within the waning moments of regulation, and seconds later had a much easier stop on Salah’s shot.
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Egypt had yet one more likelihood before the top of regulation, but Haissem Hassan was turned away by Souttar, who deflected the shot along with his knee.