World Cup 2026: The Pharaohs make history with first-ever knockout stage qualification

The Pharaohs have rewritten the history books. Egypt have secured their place in the knockout stages of a World Cup for the very first time, booking a historic spot in the last 32 as Group G runners-up following a dramatic 1-1 draw with Iran at Lumen Field in Seattle. Going into their final group fixture, Egypt knew their progression to the knockout phase was mathematically guaranteed thanks to Saturday’s earlier results, but a hard-fought point ensured they finished second behind Belgium