Egypt will look to a positive memory from the Tokyo Olympics when they face Australia in the last 32 of the 2026 World Cup on Friday evening.
The Egyptian national team meet Australia in a highly anticipated World Cup knockout match, with the Pharaohs seeking to reach the last 16 for the first time in the country’s football history.
Egypt have already achieved a landmark result by progressing from the group stage, and Mohamed Salah’s side now have the chance to extend their run in the tournament being staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
While Egypt and Australia have faced each other only a limited number of times outside official competition, the two sides do have a recent competitive meeting that Egypt will remember with confidence.
The teams played in the group stage of the men’s football tournament at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, where Egypt secured a 2-0 victory.
Olympic result offers Egypt encouragement
That match was played at Hitombori Miyagi Stadium in Refu, Japan, during the third round of Group C. Portuguese referee Artur Dias took charge of the contest.
Egypt won through goals from Ahmed Yasser Rayyan and Ammar Hamdi, earning a result that remains a notable reference point before Friday’s World Cup meeting.
At the time, Shawky Gharib was in charge of Egypt, while Graham Arnold managed Australia.
The World Cup encounter will be played in very different circumstances, with both nations now competing at senior international level and with a place in the last 16 at stake.
However, the Olympic meeting provides Egypt with evidence that they have previously found a way to overcome the Kangaroos in a competitive fixture.
Familiar faces remain from Tokyo meeting
Several players involved in Egypt’s Olympic victory are also part of the current World Cup squad.
Imam Ashour and Ibrahim Adel appeared as substitutes in the 2-0 win over Australia and are now active members of the Pharaohs’ senior squad.
Ahmed Fatouh also featured in the Olympic match, but he will not be available for Friday’s fixture because of injury.
Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy was included in the Olympic squad and remains part of the team at the World Cup. He was on the bench in Japan behind goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir.
Australia also retain players who were involved in the Tokyo encounter.
Defender Harry Souttar, who is set to lead the Kangaroos against Egypt in the World Cup, was part of the Australian squad during the Olympic Games.
Midfielders Connor Metcalfe and Cameron Devlin were also included in Australia’s group for the Tokyo tournament and remain involved with the national team.
Historic chance for the Pharaohs
Egypt’s focus will be on creating a new chapter rather than relying solely on a past result.
The Pharaohs have never reached the World Cup last 16, making Friday’s match an opportunity to deliver another historic moment for Egyptian football.
Salah and his team-mates will enter the contest aware that Australia possess several players familiar with Egypt from the Olympic defeat in Japan.
But Egypt will also take encouragement from that result, having shown in Refu that they can defeat the Kangaroos on a competitive stage.
A win on Friday would carry far greater significance, sending Egypt into the last 16 of the World Cup for the first time and continuing their most important international campaign to date.
