Sports · World Cup 2026 · Round of 32
Australiavs
Egypt
Friday, July 3, 2026 · 2:00 p.m. ET · Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium), Arlington, TX
Watch: FOX · Telemundo
My pick: Egypt advance · locked 2026-07-02 04:20 UTCPrediction
Egypt to edge it and reach a first World Cup round of 16 since 1934. The Pharaohs went through Group G unbeaten — holding Belgium, beating New Zealand 3-1 and drawing with Iran — while Australia followed their opening win over Türkiye with a shutout loss to the USA and a goalless draw against Paraguay. The caveat is Mohamed Salah's hamstring: he is a genuine doubt, and without him this becomes close to a coin flip against a well-organised Socceroos back three. Omar Marmoush and Emam Ashour still give Egypt the cleaner attacking output. 1-2 Egypt, with extra time a live possibility.
The case for Australia
33% to winAustralia are compact, physical and set-piece dangerous under Tony Popovic, and their group showed they can win ugly — the 2-0 over Türkiye came from exactly this shape. Egypt's creative burden sits heavily on one hamstrung superstar; if Salah is absent or blunted, the Socceroos' back three of Circati, Souttar and the highly-rated Lucas Herrington can squeeze Marmoush out of the game, and Nestory Irankunda's pace wins the one moment that decides a tight knockout.
The case for Egypt
40% to winEgypt were the better side in every group game — unbeaten, and level with Belgium on points at the top of Group G. Marmoush leads the line in form, Emam Ashour arrives from midfield, and even a half-fit Salah bends defences out of shape. Australia scored in only one of their three group matches, so a single Egyptian goal may be enough.
Both cases written 2026-07-02, before kickoff — they freeze into the record exactly as written, however the match goes. The percentages are mine, quoted to a decimal because false precision is funnier — the unclaimed 27% belongs to the draw.
Australia 3-4-34-2-3-1 EgyptThe briefing
Storylines
- Egypt chase a first World Cup knockout win — and first round-of-16 appearance since the 16-team 1934 edition; Australia have made the last 16 twice (2006, 2022).
- Mohamed Salah's hamstring is the story of the buildup: a late fitness test decides whether Egypt's captain starts.
- Egypt are without Mohanad Lasheen, suspended after a milestone yellow card against Iran.
- Only the second-ever meeting of the sides — Egypt won the only previous one, a 2010 friendly, 3-0. Played under the roof at Dallas's AT&T Stadium.
- The winner gets Argentina or Cabo Verde in the round of 16.
The coaches
Tony Popovic Australia
Has Australia organised in a back three, hard to break down and reliant on set pieces and Irankunda's directness for goals.
Hossam Hassan Egypt
Egypt's record scorer as a player has built a side that defends stoutly and springs Marmoush and Salah; unbeaten at this tournament.
Availability
| Jacob Italiano | Out — groin injury rules him out of the last-32 tie | Sports Mole preview (Matt Law, 1 Jul 2026) · 2026-07-01 |
| Mathew Leckie | Out — hamstring; the Socceroos are otherwise in strong shape and could be unchanged from the Paraguay draw | Sports Mole preview (Matt Law, 1 Jul 2026) · 2026-07-01 |
| Mohamed Salah | Doubt — hamstring issue picked up against Iran; hope within the camp that a late fitness test clears him to start | Sports Mole preview (Matt Law, 1 Jul 2026) · 2026-07-01 |
| Mohanad Lasheen | Suspended — accumulated a milestone yellow card against Iran | Sports Mole preview (Matt Law, 1 Jul 2026) · 2026-07-01 |
| Hamdy Fathy / Hossam Abdelmaguid / Mohamed Abdelmonem / Ahmed El Fotouh | Doubts — groin, head, ankle and hamstring issues respectively; all to be assessed | Sports Mole preview (Matt Law, 1 Jul 2026) · 2026-07-01 |
Availability drifts hourly in tournament week — every row carries its source and date for exactly that reason.
Watch: FOX in English (free over the air, or stream on Fox One) and Telemundo in Spanish (stream on Peacock); the free Tubi simulcast carries Telemundo's Spanish feed. (FOX Sports World Cup broadcast schedule / how-to-watch guides (2 Jul 2026), as of 2026-07-02)
Weather: Roof at Dallas's AT&T Stadium — a climate-controlled environment, no forecast needed. (Venue (retractable roof), as of 2026-07-02)
Venue: Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium), Arlington, TX, United States — FIFA strips sponsor names for the tournament; the everyday name is in parentheses.
