Egypt have already made history at this World Cup, but The Pharaohs’ journey could be set for an even grander chapter as they head into their final Group G showdown against Iran at Seattle Stadium on Friday.
Talismanic captain Mohamed Salah was in inspired form in their last outing, scoring once and providing an assist for Trezeguet as Egypt secured a 3-1 victory over New Zealand—their first-ever win at a World Cup finals.
That result has put Hossam Hassan’s side in pole position; with four points already on the board, they are all but assured of reaching the knockout stages for the first time in four tournament appearances.
A victory in Seattle would guarantee Egypt the top spot in the group—a feat the Opta supercomputer currently gives them a 61.4% chance of achieving. Finishing first would likely set up a favorable Round of 32 clash against a third-place team, making a deep run into the tournament look increasingly viable.
It’s exactly the kind of legacy star forward Salah is hoping to leave behind. At 34, the Egyptian King is likely playing in his final World Cup and is clearly determined to inspire his nation to new heights. He has now scored or assisted in four consecutive World Cup matches (dating back to Qatar 2022), and should he find the net against Iran, he will become Egypt’s all-time leading scorer with 69 goals—he is level with the record currently held by his own head coach, Hossam Hassan.
Resiliant Iran Still Alive
However, standing in their way is a resilient Iran side that has overcome immense adversity to remain in contention for their own historic knockout berth. Due to the complexities of war, geopolitics, and visa restrictions, Team Melli was forced to move their training camp in Mexico while playing all of their matches in the USA.
Iran were only allowed to enter the United States 24hrs before their matches against New Zealand and Belgium, and had to leave the country straight after the game.
While those travel restrictions have been slightly relaxed for this final group game—allowing manager Amir Ghalenoei to bring his squad into Seattle two days earlier—the sheer grit shown by the Iranian players to stay competitive under such conditions cannot be overstated.
Egypt may be the favorites, but they face an opponent that has already proven it can thrive under the most intense pressure.
How Egypt can qualify
Egypt is in a very strong position and is almost certain to go through, regardless of the result. They are playing to win the group and get an easier matchup in the next round.
Win or draw: They qualify automatically and will likely finish 1st in the group. (The only way they wouldn’t finish first with a draw is if Belgium wins their game by 3 goals or more).
Lose: They will still qualify. At worst, they would finish 3rd with 4 points, which would still be enough to progress to the Round of 32.
How Iran can qualify
Iran’s path is more competitive and depends heavily on the Belgium result. But essentially it is a ‘win and you’re in’ scenario.
Win: They are guaranteed to qualify. If Belgium fails to win their match, Iran would actually finish 1st in the group.
Draw: They can still finish 2nd, but only if Belgium also draws their match. If Belgium wins and Iran draws, Iran will finish 3rd and have to hope 3 points is enough to be one of the eight best-ranked third-placed teams.
Key Players: Marwan Attia and Mehdi Taremi
Having already given Mo Salah praise above, we have selected an unsung hero for our one to watch against Iran: Marwan Attia.
Alongside defensive midfield partner Mohanad Lasheen, Attia provides the solid foundation that allows Egypt’s attacking front four to flourish. His performance in the victory over New Zealand was a masterclass in efficiency; he completed 82 passes—a record for an Egyptian player at the World Cup—and led his team by regaining possession nine times (per Opta). The 27-year-old is the essential cog in the midfield engine room, using his high work rate and combative nature to recycle the ball and keep the team ticking over.
For Iran, captain Mehdi Taremi has been the face of the team at this tournament. He has shouldered an immense burden off the pitch—fronting up at difficult press conferences and leading his side through a complex political landscape—but he is still searching for his first goal of the campaign.
Having netted twice at Qatar 2022, the 33-year-old knows this likely represents his final chance to leave a mark on the world stage. The Olympiacos forward boasts top-tier European pedigree from his time at Porto and Inter Milan and remains the heartbeat of the Iranian attack. While Taremi is expert at dropping deep to link play, he is at his most dangerous when timing runs behind the opposition’s backline to exploit space. He has the movement to hurt Egypt; he just needs the service to match.
Veteran Grit vs. Balanced Brilliance
A slight loosening of border restrictions has allowed Amir Ghalenoei’s veteran Iran side—which fielded the oldest starting XI in recorded World Cup history against Belgium, with an average age of 32 years and 181 days—precious extra time to prepare. They face an Egyptian side that Ghalenoei insists is far more than just a one-man show. With Salah flourishing in a new, central No.10 role, the Pharaohs have proven to be a balanced and highly organized unit.
Egypt boss Hassan has made it clear his side will not be playing for a draw despite already having one foot in the knockout stage. Riding the momentum of their historic first-ever World Cup victory, the Pharaohs are hunting for the top spot in Group G to secure a more favorable Round of 32 opponent.
For Iran, the challenge is to be clinical; despite their defensive resilience, they currently rank bottom of the group for shots and expected goals. To leapfrog Egypt and avoid the uncertainty of the third-place lottery, they must find a way to turn their grit into goals.
Egypt Possible Starting Lineup
Iran Possible Starting Lineup
Match details: Egypt v Iran
Kick-off: 11 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. PT / 4 a.m. BST — Friday, June 26
Venue: Lumen Field, Seattle
Referee: Szymon Marciniak
