Key takeaways
- Egypt drew 1-1 with Australia and won the shootout 4-2 to reach the World Cup knockout stage for the first time ever.
- Mohamed Salah converted his penalty; Australia missed twice from the spot as Egypt scored all four they took.
- Egypt now face Lionel Messi's Argentina in the round of 16 — a huge step up in class.
- Shootout wins are near coin-flips: never over-stake an underdog run, however romantic the story.
Egypt are into the World Cup last 16 for the first time in their history after a nerveless penalty shootout eliminated Australia on Friday. The Round of 32 tie finished 1-1 after extra time, and Egypt held their composure to win the shootout 4-2 — with talisman Mohamed Salah among the successful takers.
What happened
Egypt struck early through Emam Ashour, who found the net inside the opening quarter-hour. Australia hauled themselves level before the break — a dangerous set-piece into the box was turned into his own goal by an Egyptian defender — and neither side could find a winner across 90 minutes or extra time.
That sent the tie to spot-kicks. Egypt were flawless, converting all four of their penalties, while Australia missed twice, leaving the Pharaohs to celebrate a landmark result. It is only the second time an African nation has won a World Cup penalty shootout, after Morocco’s famous runs, and it lifts Egypt into a last-16 date with Lionel Messi’s Argentina, who survived their own scare against Cape Verde.
For a fuller picture of how the bracket is shaping up, see our World Cup 2026 knockout bracket betting guide.
The betting angle
Shootouts are the great leveller — and a cautionary tale for punters. Statistically, a penalty shootout sits close to a coin flip: form, world ranking and pre-match odds barely move the needle once it goes to spot-kicks. If you backed Australia on the match line, extra time and penalties are exactly why “to qualify” and “match result (90 mins)” are different markets. Always check which one you’re actually betting.
Egypt’s reward is brutal on paper. Against Argentina they will be firm underdogs, and the market will price them accordingly. That does not make an Egypt punt “value” — a long price on an outsider is only value if the true chance is longer than the odds imply, and against the holders it rarely is. If Salah’s story tempts you, the sensible play is a small stake on a specific angle (Salah to score, a tight handicap, or over/under cards in a physical tie) rather than a big swing on the outright upset. Our World Cup 2026 winner odds explainer breaks down why favourites like Argentina stay short even after a wobble.
Salah backers eyeing the Golden Boot race should note the trade-off too: reaching the last 16 keeps him in the tournament and adds a game, but a tie against Argentina’s defence is a tougher stage to add to his tally.
How to bet it safely from the Philippines
If you want a position on the last-16 tie, keep it small and specific. First-goalscorer and anytime-scorer markets on Salah, Asian handicaps to level a mismatch, and card or corner lines in what should be a committed Egyptian rearguard are all cleaner than an outright. New to any of this? Start with our World Cup 2026 betting guide for Philippines players and read how football odds actually work before you stake a peso.
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The bottom line
Egypt’s shootout win is one of the feel-good stories of the tournament, and a first knockout run for a proud football nation. But romance and value are not the same thing at the betting window. Enjoy the ride, back it small, and treat any Egypt punt against Argentina as entertainment rather than an edge.
Bet only what you can afford to lose. If gambling stops being fun, take a break — see our responsible gambling resources. 18+ only.
Frequently asked questions
What was the score in Egypt vs Australia?
The Round of 32 tie finished 1-1 after extra time. Egypt then won the penalty shootout 4-2 to advance to the World Cup 2026 last 16 — their first knockout-stage progression in the country's history.
Who does Egypt play next?
Egypt face reigning champions Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, in the round of 16 after Argentina edged Cape Verde 3-2 on the same day.
