Australia v Egypt – predictions and odds – 2026 World Cup (3 July 2026)

On the final day of this massive round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup, two teams have a chance to dream of progressing beyond the group stage in this type of tournament. This is practically unheard of for both the Australians and the Egyptians. For the Africans, this is the first time in their history that they have progressed beyond the initial group stage at a World Cup, something the ‘Aussies’ have managed to do on just two occasions: Qatar 2022 and Germany 2006. Both sides have a chance of reaching the round of 16, where Argentina hypothetically awaits, but that’s another story. Who will come out on top in Dallas?

Tony Popovic’s side have gone from strength to strength in this tournament. After beating a disappointing Turkey 2–0 and demonstrating their firepower despite having to carry the weight of the match, they were unable to stop the United States (a 2–0 defeat) and could only manage a draw against a well-organised Paraguay (0–0). Often lining up with five at the back, this side’s priority is to leave few spaces in their own half, time their pressing perfectly and, once they’ve won the ball back, drive forward. Perhaps their most dangerous player is the 20-year-old Nestory Irankunda. The new Watford signing stands out for his explosiveness and ability to create chances out of nothing. When he’s on form, he can set his team alight.

On the other hand, Egypt’s game plan has not been very different in this World Cup either. They were very compact and well-organised against Belgium (securing a fine 1–1 draw), took a few more risks against New Zealand in a superb 3–1 victory, and ended up drawing with Iran without taking too many risks, as that result was enough to see them through. The key will be the condition of their star player, Salah, as he was substituted in the previous match due to a hamstring strain. If the former Liverpool player is 100 per cent fit, the Pharaohs will have a strong chance of progressing.

All in all, we don’t expect a spectacular match with both sides throwing everything forward. We’re likely to see a lot of possession-based play, with both sides avoiding unforced errors as they feel more comfortable sitting back. It’s most likely that Egypt will capitalise on their quality beyond Salah (Marmoush, Trezeguet or Saber) and end up winning a match in which there shouldn’t be many goals. Our bet is that there will be no more than 1 goal in the 90 minutes. The odds are really high and the probability very high.