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Updated June 27, 2026 — 3:39pm,first published 3:09pm
San Francisco: The Socceroos will play Egypt in the next round of the World Cup after the Pharaohs finished second in their group after a dramatic 1-1 draw with Iran.
The teams will meet for the Round of 32 clash at 4am on July 4 (AEST), in Dallas for what will be the first time the two countries have faced off at a World Cup.
Attention will be on the fitness of Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, the Premier League star was taken off in the 57th minute against Iran and had heavy strapping on his left leg after being substituted.
Iran’s Mehdi Taremi – who had a penalty saved in the first half – hit the crossbar with a late header before Shoja Khalilzadeh thought he had scored a dramatic 93rd-minute winner - that would have put them in second place - but it was ruled out for offside.
The draw means Egypt finish second with five points, behind Belgium on goal difference, and make it to the World Cup’s knockout stages for the first time. Iran is third on three points and must wait for confirmation that they will go through as one of the eight best third-placed teams.
In the other match, Belgium jumped from third spot in the group to first as they defeated New Zealand 5-1.
Australia has not played Egypt since 2010, when the Socceroos lost 3-0 in a friendly in Cairo. The two teams only other meeting was in 1987, when Australia won 4-3 on penalties after a scoreless draw in a President’s Cup match, a now defunct tournament formerly hosted by the Korea Football Association.
More to come
