Preview: Australia vs Egypt – Latest News, Predicted Lineups, Team News | 2026 World Cup (03/07/2026)

Last update at 2 July, 2026⏲️ Reading time: 5 minutes

Round of 32 clash between Australia and Egypt.

Australia and Egypt face off in the Round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup.

Australia and Egypt go head-to-head in the Round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, United States.

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Both teams qualified as runners-up in their respective groups and now have a golden opportunity to reach the World Cup Round of 16. There is no room for error, with the loser heading home, while the winner will face either Argentina or Cape Verde in the next round.

Latest team news and current form

This is expected to be a closely contested encounter between two nations that were not tipped to go far at the 2026 World Cup. However, facing each other gives both sides a realistic chance of finishing among the tournament's final 16 teams.

Australia

Australia began their World Cup campaign with a crucial victory over Turkey, collecting three valuable points in convincing fashion. They then lost to hosts United States, with Mauricio Pochettino's side proving the stronger team. That left the Socceroos needing only a draw against Paraguay in their final group match, and neither side managed to break the deadlock over the 90 minutes.

Egypt

The Pharaohs opened their 2026 World Cup with an impressive draw against Belgium, who eventually finished top of the group. They then comfortably defeated New Zealand to book their place in the Round of 32. In their final group match, Egypt had the chance to secure first place but had to settle for a draw against Iran, leaving them in second.

Australia vs Egypt head-to-head

Australia and Egypt have met only once before. That was an international friendly played in November 2010, with Egypt claiming a comfortable victory.

(17/11/2010) Egypt 3-0 Australia

Predicted lineups

Neither Hossam Hassan nor Tony Popovic is expected to make major changes for this match. Egypt will be without Lasheen through suspension, while Australia are missing Italiano and Leckie due to injury. Mohamed Salah remains a doubt with a muscle issue, but he is expected to be fit enough to start for the Pharaohs.

Position	–Australia	–Egypt
Goalkeeper	Beach	Shobeir
Defenders	Circati Scouttar Burgess Bos Behich	Hany Ibrahim Fathy Fatouh
Midfielders	O´Neill Okon-Engstler Irankunda Metcalfe	Attia Saber Ashour Ziko
Forwards	Toure	Salah Marmoush

Tactical analysis: an evenly matched battle

This is one of the most unpredictable Round of 32 ties at the 2026 World Cup. Neither Australia nor Egypt arrived as genuine contenders, and neither was widely expected to make a deep run. With no recent meetings between the two sides, it is difficult to predict who will control the game. A tight contest is expected, where the team scoring first could gain a decisive advantage. So far in the knockout stage, most teams that have scored first have gone on to qualify.

Both teams are entering unfamiliar territory, as neither has previously played a World Cup knockout match. Australia reached the Round of 16 at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, while Egypt have never progressed that far. The pressure will be immense, and the side that handles it best is likely to advance. Egypt may hold a slight edge thanks to experienced stars such as Salah and Marmoush, who are capable of making the difference in what promises to be a very balanced contest.

Key players to watch

The standout players for this match are expected to be Irankunda for Australia and Salah for Egypt.

Nestory Irankunda (Australia)

The young Watford winger has emerged as one of Australia's biggest revelations. His pace and explosiveness have become key weapons for the Socceroos, who know that many of their hopes of reaching the Round of 16 depend on his inspiration. The former Adelaide United player has already found the net at the 2026 World Cup, scoring in Australia's opening victory over Turkey.

Mohamed Salah (Egypt)

Mohamed Salah is Egypt's undisputed leader. The Liverpool forward is both captain and the player expected to inspire his teammates. His quality and vast experience in high-pressure matches should prove invaluable for the Pharaohs. In a game that could be decided by a single moment, Salah has the ability to guide Egypt into the World Cup Round of 16 for the first time in the nation's history.

Betting markets and odds

This is expected to be one of the most evenly matched Round of 32 ties. The current 2026 World Cup odds reflect that expectation, with neither team considered a clear favourite.

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The draw is priced between 2.80 and 3.06, relatively short odds for a stalemate, highlighting just how evenly matched this fixture is expected to be. Markets also point towards a low-scoring affair, with under 2.5 goals available between 1.40 and 1.45.

Final prediction

Australia have shown they are a highly competitive side, but Egypt possess the extra quality provided by Salah and Marmoush. I expect a very tight match with few chances and a narrow victory for Egypt.

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