Egypt Secures Round of 32 Spot After Dramatic Draw with Iran
In a thrilling conclusion to Group G at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Egypt clinched a spot in the Round of 32 following a dramatic 1-1 draw against Iran, highlighted by a last-minute VAR decision that denied Iran a potential winning goal.
Egypt’s journey in the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues after they drew 1-1 with Iran in a high-stakes match that kept fans on the edge of their seats. The Pharaohs started strong, with Mahmoud Saber scoring a goal just five minutes into the game, giving them an early advantage. However, Iran quickly responded, leveling the score only nine minutes later through Ramin Rezaeian.
The match intensified in the dying moments, as Iran believed they had secured victory in stoppage time when Shoja Khalilzadeh scored. However, a VAR review overturned the goal, citing offside, much to the relief of the Egyptian side. Just moments later, Iran nearly found a dramatic late winner, hitting the crossbar in the 90+8 minute. Egypt’s resilience allowed them to hold on for a draw, securing their advancement to the knockout stage.
With Belgium’s commanding 5-1 win over New Zealand, Egypt finished second in Group G with five points, setting them up for a challenging match against Australia in the Round of 32. Iran, on the other hand, ended their group stage campaign in third place with three points, awaiting the possibility of qualifying as one of the best third-place teams in the tournament.