Aiden O'Neill and Kai Trewin played in Socceroos' World Cup loss to Egypt | OneFootball

Matt Freese and the USMNT have already booked a place in the Round of 16, while Aiden O'Neill and Kai Trewin wanted to secure their own spot with the Australia national football team. The New York City FC players played on Friday afternoon against the Egypt national football team. The Socceroos had a tough path ahead of them if they wanted to continue in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and that included the matchup with Egypt.

After the game could not be decided in regulation, Australia and Egypt battled it out in extra time. However, that was not enough, and with the score leveled at 1-1, a penalty kick shootout was needed. In the end, Australia fell 4-2 in the shootout to be kicked out of the World Cup. It was a tough way to lose, but the team fought until the end.

NYCFC's Aussies are out of the World Cup

O'Neill started the game, as the NYCFC player has done in every single match. Trewin was on the bench and finally made his debut when he came on as a substitute after halftime. The team still had their strong starting lineup, but Egypt was talented, too. And in the first half, the team led by Mohamed Salah, who would be a dream signing for the Pigeons, was the one that everyone felt would move on.

The Egyptian team slightly dominated those first 45 minutes, and they also scored first. In the 13th minute, they had a free kick. They did not score directly from the set piece, but after a few passes in the box, Emam Ashour put his team ahead after a beautiful cross to head the ball into the goal.

Afterward, the Socceroos were a little defeated. They were not playing at the level that they should, and were lackluster in the final third.

During the second half, things began to change for the Socceroos. The team became more alive, and even O'Neill helped take charge with the rest of the leaders to create a different dynamic on the pitch. And the NYCFC player was taking the free kicks. This is not something he always does with the Boys in Blue, but after this match, Pascal Jansen might want to consider using him more.

In the 55th minute, Australia was given a free kick outside of the left side of the box. O'Neill was the one to step up and take it, and he provided the ball directly into the box toward the goal. None of his teammates could make contact. Instead, Egypt's Mohamed Hany headed the ball into the back of the net, causing an own goal. It was a gift Australia was grateful for, and it brought them back into the match.

As the half continued, Australia continued to be a little better. The players had a new life, and they knew there was a chance to move on. Both teams, though, were still not clinical enough in front of the goal, and subsequently, the match went into extra time.

O'Neill was taken off after the full 90 minutes, so he did not play the remainder of the game. Trewin stayed on, and Egypt, who began to dominate at the end of the second half, controlled the pace of play. The Socceroos spent most of the time defending, dealing with a newly energetic force in extra time.

Thankfully, they defended well enough, but as mentioned earlier, the fixture went into a penalty kick shootout. Australia shockingly switched their goalkeepers at the end of extra time, and maybe that was not the right decision.

Nevertheless, it was the players themselves who caused the loss. Two of the four penalty-takers shot the ball off target, while Egypt scored all four of their goals. That led to the Socceroos' World Cup exit, and now two of the NYCFC players are coming home.

Trewin was available to take a penalty kick if he was needed, but did not. And while exiting the World Cup is never easy, at least he can say that he has played at a World Cup.

NYCFC fans can be proud of their Australian players. Oh, and please let O'Neill take more free kicks. Thanks.