![Mohamed Salah of Egypt celebrates after winning at the shoot-out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 match between Australia and Egypt at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, United States on July 03, 2026. [Evrim Aydın - Anadolu Agency]](https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/AA-20260703-41867452-41867450-AUSTRALIA_V_EGYPT_FIFA_WORLD_CUP_2026_ROUND_OF_32-scaled-e1783159743263.jpg)
Celebrations swept across Egypt on Friday evening after the national football team reached the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the first time in its history, defeating Australia on penalties in the Round of 32, Anadolu reports. Crowds gathered in streets across the country’s governorates, waving Egyptian flags and chanting in celebration of the team’s historic achievement, an Anadolu correspondent reported. Egypt will play against Argentina in the Round of 16. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi also congratulated the team. “I congratulate the sons of Egypt, the heroes of our national football team, on this historic achievement of qualifying for the Round of 16 of the World Cup for the first time in the team’s history,” […]