Australia v Egypt LIVE: Socceroos bid to make history with Salah set to start World Cup clash | OneFootball

Australia and Egypt battle for a round of 16 spot in what looks an evenly-matched World Cup 2026 knockout match.

A tough tie against Argentina is likely to be next for the winner, but there is plenty on the line as two sides in solid form collide. The Socceroos came through a tricky group largely thanks to an excellent opening win over Turkey, and are now eyeing a spot of World Cup history – never before have Australia won a knockout tie at the tournament, losing their previous two outings beyond the group stage.

Can they avoid a repeat? Mohamed Salah – fit to feature after a hamstring injury – and co. will ensure they are sternly tested. Perennial powerhouses in the Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt have a curiously poor World Cup record themselves but will fancy their chances of progressing.

World Cup 2026 Golden Boot: Mbappe vs Messi standings as Kane joins thrilling race to finish top scorer

The race for the golden boot at the World Cup is hurtling towards an epic contest during the knockout stage as Kylian Mbappe reined in Lionel Messi at the top of the standings with Vinicius Jr and Erling Haalandalso very much in the race.

The stars continue to dominate at this tournament, none more so than Messi after backing up a hat-trick against Algeria with a double against Austria to highlight one of his greatest traits after a penalty miss. Another arrived off the bench against Jordan – inevitably.

Not to be outdone, Mbappe has been in excellent scoring touch and a brace against Sweden propelled France to a 3-0 victory and a spot in the last-16 as he once again thrives on the biggest stage. It also sends him above Messi in the standings though they are level on goals scored.

Chris Wilson3 July 2026 18:05

Line-ups

Egypt XI: Shoubir; Ibrahim, Hany, Rabia, Hafez; Ashour, Zico, Fathy, Attia; Salah, Marmoush.

Subs: Elshenawy, Soliman, Alaa, Abdelmaguid. Alaa, Donga, Saber, Trezeguet, Abdelkarim, Hassan, Adel, Zizo.

Chris Wilson3 July 2026 17:46

Line-ups

Australia XI: Beach, Circati, Souttar, Herrington; Behich, O’Neill, Irvine, Bos; Metcalfe, Irankunda, Volpato.

Subs: Ryan, Izzo, Degenek, Geria, Trewin, Burgess, Devlin, Okon-Engstler, Toure, Hrustic, Mabil, Velupillay, Yengi.

Chris Wilson3 July 2026 17:44

Team news

The line-ups should be released any moment from now, so here’s a reminder of the early team news for both sides...

Mo Salah should be fit enough to at least be involved this evening, but it is not yet known whether he’ll be able to start the game.

“Salah is a passionate player; he is very much looking forward to making his own contributions with his teammates tomorrow,” said Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan in the build-up to the game.

Elsewhere, Ahmed Fatouh has been ruled out with a hamstring injury, while Hamdy Fathy, Hossam Abdelmaguid and Mohamed Abdelmonem will face late fitness tests.

As for the Socceroos, Jacob Italiano and Mathew Leckie are the only absentees, with the former sidelined due to a groin issue and the latter making his own recovery from a hamstring injury.

World Cup 2026: Last-16 fixtures, results and full tournament bracket

The last-16 of the 2026 World Cup looms large this weekend.

Argentina face Cape Verde tonight as the round-of-32 wraps up, along with Australia vs Egypt and Colombia vs Ghana.

Among the thrilling ties already teed up for the next round are England’s trip to the Azteca to face Mexico, Spain taking on Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal and hosts USA against Belgium.

The top two sides in each group qualified for knockouts along with the eight best third-place teams. Uruguay and Scotland were among the 16 nations eliminated, while tournament contenders including Spain, France, Argentina, Brazil, England and Germany all topped their groups.

Chris Wilson3 July 2026 17:00

Both sides train ahead of last-32 tie

(Reuters)

(Getty)

Chris Wilson3 July 2026 16:45

Farewell Luka Modric, the World Cup’s unlikely miracle man who changed Croatia forever

When it was eventually all over, Luka Modric found himself enveloped in a hug by Cristiano Ronaldo, a slight figure almost swallowed up by a far taller former teammate. It was an instant reminder of how improbable it has been, the career of this middle-aged man with the body of a boy, the footballer from a small country that, with him as their indefatigable leader, almost conquered the footballing world.

Modric at the World Cup has been a great story. The final chapter was cruel; Croatia celebrated euphorically when it appeared Josko Gvardiol had scored a 103rd-minute equaliser against Portugal. The specialists in going to extra time seemed to have done so again. Enter VAR and exit Croatia. Portugal progressed. Modric’s World Cup career is finally finished, with silver and bronze medals, with the Golden Ball and the Bronze Ball, perhaps even with a place in the tournament’s all-time 11.

Richard Jolly3 July 2026 16:37