Australia vs Egypt: World Cup Round of 32 preview, predictions and bet builder tips

• Fixture: Australia vs Egypt

• Competition: World Cup - Round of 32

• Date: Friday, 3 July, 2026

• Kick-off: 19:00 BST

• Venue: Dallas Stadium, Texas, USA

Our prediction: Australia 1-2 Egypt

Australia

Our predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Beach / Circati, Souttar, Herrington / Bos, Okon-Engstler, O'Neill, Behich / Irankunda, Metcalfe / Toure

Egypt

Our predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Shobeir / Hany, Rabia, Ibrahim, El Fotouh / Ateya, Saber / Ashour, Salah, Zico / Marmoush

The first pick of our Australia vs Egypt bet builder is for over 1.5 goals to be scored, and while this is a slightly conservative choice - which aligns with our predicted scoreline - everything points to at least two goals being scored here.

All three of Egypt's Group G matches featured over 1.5 goals, with the Pharaohs having scored in every single match so far this summer, and with two of Australia's Group D matches also delivering multiple goals, the chances of seeing the net bulge a couple of times here look pretty good.

Hossam Hassan's Egypt are averaging more than four shots on target per game at the 2026 World Cup, while Australia average about 3.7, so we're certainly expecting a few chances to fall to the likes of Mohamed Salah and Nestory Irankunda - with over 1.5 goals a decent shout.

Omar Marmoush has never scored a World Cup goal for his country, with this year being his first-ever crack at the tournament, but as Egypt look for a hero, we're tipping the Manchester City forward to step up and score against Australia.

Ten goals in 53 appearances for his nation is a decent return for Marmoush, who scored eight times in all competitions for City last term - with limited gametime - and we think he'll prove his goalscoring touch once again. The 27-year-old is averaging almost four shots a game at the 2026 World Cup, which is exactly what he averaged in the Premier League too, so with such willingness to try his luck, he's sure to test Patrick Beach in the Australia goal.

And we're tipping him to beat him, with Marmoush grabbing his maiden World Cup goal to help his team stake their claim for the Round of 16.

One of Australia's most reliable, consistent performers, Alessandro Circati has played every minute of the tournament so far, but he did pick up a booking in his country's only defeat - and we're expecting much of the same in Texas.

Currently plying his trade for Parma in Serie A, the 22-year-old earned six yellows in the 2025/26 campaign, committing a foul a game as his side finished mid-table - and that form has carried into the summer. On average, Circati conceded 1.3 fouls per 90 in Group D, and we think he'll be caught out by the sheer intelligence and sharpness of Salah, Marmoush, and the likes - with the Premier League stars possessing dribbling ability that not many players can emulate.

On the right of a back three, Circati could have a lot of difficult defending to do, so we're tipping him to be shown a card in the RO32.

Wrapping up our Australia vs Egypt match preview and predictions, Ladbrokes' experts are backing Egypt to come out on top in Texas, scraping through what should be an extremely close tie.

The latest odds have priced the Pharaohs as odds-on favourites to progress at the Aussies' expense, with just one competitive defeat since December 2025 suggesting they're more than capable of staying solid when it matters, and we think their star quality will carry them through. Australia don't lose often themselves, with just two defeats in their last seven, but against an inspired side with very recent history of reaching AFCON finals, Tony Popovic's side will be bang up against it.

With that in mind, the fourth and final pick of our Australia vs Egypt bet builder is for Egypt to qualify for the next round, reaching the last 16 for the first time at a World Cup since 1934.

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All odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.

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