Hossam Abdelmaguid rolled the winning penalty low to the goalkeeper’s right, and Egypt’s players erupted. The 4-2 shootout victory over Australia at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Friday delivered the nation’s first-ever win in a World Cup knockout match and a place in the last 16. The moment was met with tears from captain Mohamed Salah, who had earlier chipped a Panenka-style penalty down the middle, and with jubilation across the Arab world, where the result was celebrated as a shared regional triumph.

The contest had been tense and tactically cautious from the outset. Egypt took the lead in the 13th minute when Emam Ashour, whose initial free-kick was blocked, stooped to head Karim Hafez’s cross past goalkeeper Patrick Beach. Australia, who had earlier struck the crossbar through Cristian Volpato, struggled to create clear chances but equalised ten minutes into the second half. Aiden O’Neill’s inswinging free-kick from the left was inadvertently headed into his own net by defender Mohamed Hany — his second own goal of the tournament, a record for a single World Cup. Both sides then traded late opportunities: Beach produced a stunning one-handed save to deny Ramy Rabia’s header in stoppage time, and Harry Souttar blocked Haissem Hassan’s follow-up to force extra time.

With neither team able to find a winner in the additional 30 minutes, Australia coach Tony Popovic made a dramatic late substitution, replacing Beach with the experienced Mathew Ryan in the 119th minute specifically for the shootout. The gamble failed. Ryan did not get close to any Egyptian penalty. Australia’s Harry Souttar blazed the first kick over the bar, and after five successful conversions — including Salah’s audacious chip — 18-year-old Lucas Herrington struck the crossbar with Australia’s fourth attempt. Abdelmaguid then converted to seal Egypt’s progress.

Viewed from Cairo, the victory rewrites decades of World Cup frustration. Egypt had not appeared in the knockout rounds since the 1934 tournament, which began directly at that stage, and had never won a match at the finals before this edition. Australian analysts, meanwhile, noted that the Socceroos remain without a knockout victory in six World Cup appearances, having fallen to eventual champions Italy in 2006 and Argentina in 2022. The result also eliminated the last Asian Football Confederation representative from the tournament.

Egypt will face the winner of the later match between defending champions Argentina and tournament debutants Cape Verde in the round of 16 on 7 July in Atlanta. For the Pharaohs, a quarter-final berth — and a further rewriting of history — now lies within reach.