Egypt Secure World Cup Last-16 Spot After Iran Draw

Egypt and Iran drew 1-1 in their final Group G match at the FIFA World Cup 2026. The game was tense from the start. Both teams needed a good result, so every attack felt important.

The draw was enough for Egypt. They finished second in Group G and reached the Round of 16. Next, they will face Australia.

However, Iran must keep waiting. They ended the group stage unbeaten, but they only had three points. Therefore, they need results from other groups to go their way.

Watch the match highlights at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeLUP57yMn4

Egypt Score After Only Five Minutes

Egypt started the match with great energy. They knew a draw could be enough, but they still attacked early.

In the fifth minute, Egypt took the lead. Saber finished a sharp move with a calm shot past Alireza Beiranvand. As a result, Egypt went 1-0 up and gained early control.

The goal gave Egypt confidence. However, Iran did not panic. They stayed focused and quickly pushed forward.

Photo: Reuters

Iran Hit Back Through Rezaeian

Iran needed a strong response, and they got one fast.

In the 14th minute, Ramin Rezaeian scored the equalizer. He reacted well inside the box and beat Mohamed El Shenawy with a clean finish.

Therefore, the score was 1-1 after only 14 minutes. The match then became more careful. Both teams knew one mistake could change everything.

Photo: Reuters

The Game Slows Down Before Half-Time

After the two early goals, the pace dropped. Egypt tried to stay compact. Meanwhile, Iran looked for space in midfield.

Mohamed Salah tried to create chances for Egypt. However, Iran defended him well. On the other side, Mehdi Taremi moved a lot for Iran. Even so, Egypt’s defense stayed strong.

As a result, clear chances were rare. The first half ended 1-1.

The match is being played at a high pace (Photo: Reuters)

Iran Push Hard in the Second Half

After the break, Iran played with more urgency. They needed a win to improve their chance of going through.

Iran pushed more players forward. They attacked down the wings and sent crosses into the box. In addition, they looked dangerous from set pieces.

Meanwhile, Egypt defended deeper. They protected the draw and waited for counterattacks. Salah and Trezeguet offered speed on the break, but Egypt mainly focused on safety.

Although Iran had more pressure, they could not find a second goal.

Salah is playing very actively in attack (Photo: Reuters)

Late Drama and VAR Heartbreak

The final minutes were full of drama.

In the 89th minute, Iran almost scored. A powerful shot hit the crossbar. Then, in stoppage time, Iran thought they had won it.

Khalilzadeh put the ball into the net in the 90+3rd minute. Iranian players celebrated wildly. However, VAR checked the play.

After the review, the goal was ruled out for offside. Therefore, the score stayed 1-1. It was a huge relief for Egypt and a painful moment for Iran.

Both teams are playing with great determination (Photo: Reuters).

Egypt Move On, Iran Must Wait

Egypt finished the group stage with five points. They beat New Zealand and drew with Belgium and Iran.

They had the same number of points as Belgium. However, Belgium finished first on goal difference. Therefore, Egypt took second place.

Still, Egypt reached their main goal. They are now in the Round of 16 and will play Australia.

Iran, meanwhile, finished with three draws. They did not lose a match, but they also did not win one. As a result, they must wait to see if three points are enough to qualify as one of the best third-placed teams.

For Egypt, the dream continues. For Iran, the wait begins.

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