Egypt have moved within one victory of a potential FIFA World Cup meeting with defending champions Argentina after securing a place in the knockout phase of the 2026 tournament.
Led by captain Mohamed Salah, the Pharaohs progressed from Group G as runners-up with five points, finishing level with Belgium but behind on goal difference. The achievement marks Egypt’s best performance at a World Cup after successfully advancing beyond the group stage.
Their reward is a round-of-32 encounter against Australia on Friday evening, with the winner expected to move into a highly anticipated last-16 clash against Argentina, provided the South American champions overcome Cape Verde.
Salah Plays Key Role Despite Injury Setback
Salah was instrumental in Egypt’s successful group-stage campaign before injury cut short his involvement in the final match.
The former Liverpool forward opened his tournament account with a goal against New Zealand and followed it with two assists across Egypt’s opening two matches, making a decisive contribution to the team’s qualification.
However, the forward suffered a muscle injury during Egypt’s final group-stage match against Iran on Saturday morning, forcing him to leave the pitch before the game had concluded.
Despite the setback, Egypt secured the results needed to advance, keeping alive hopes that Salah could return in time for the latter stages of the competition.
Australia Present the Next Challenge
Egypt must first overcome Australia in the round of 32 before thoughts can turn to a possible meeting with Argentina.
The knockout fixture represents another significant milestone for the Pharaohs, who are seeking to extend what has already become a landmark World Cup campaign.
Victory over Australia would place Egypt among the final 16 teams in the tournament and bring them within touching distance of one of the competition’s most eagerly anticipated fixtures.
Argentina Await if Favourites Progress
Defending champions Argentina topped Group 10 to secure what appears to be a favourable route into the next round.
They are scheduled to face Cape Verde, whose qualification as runners-up in Group H was one of the surprises of the tournament after finishing ahead of both Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.
Should Argentina avoid an upset and Egypt defeat Australia, the two nations would meet in the round of 16 in what would be the first competitive World Cup encounter between them.
The fixture would also place two of football’s most celebrated captains on opposite sides, with Mohamed Salah leading Egypt and Lionel Messi captaining Argentina.
Historic Meeting Could Be on the Horizon
A meeting between Egypt and Argentina would carry historical significance beyond the individual battle between Salah and Messi.
The two national teams have not faced each other since 26 March 2008, when Argentina defeated Egypt 2-0 in an international friendly at Cairo Stadium. Messi did not feature in that match.
If the sides meet this time, it would mark their first-ever encounter at a FIFA World Cup.
The match would also represent another notable milestone for Argentina during this year’s tournament. After already facing Algeria and Jordan during the group stage, a meeting with Egypt would mean the defending champions had come up against three Arab nations in a single World Cup edition.
For Egypt, however, immediate attention remains fixed on Australia. Only victory in that knockout tie will keep alive the prospect of a historic showdown between Salah and Messi on football’s biggest stage.
