Egypt made history by winning its first-ever World Cup knockout match, defeating Australia in a penalty shootout in Dallas, United States. The match ended 1-1 after regular and extra time, with Imam Ashour scoring early for Egypt and an own goal by Mohamed Hany leveling the score for Australia. Egypt secured a 4-2 win in the shootout, with decisive kicks from Hossam Abdelmaguid and missed attempts by Australia’s Harry Souttar and Lucas Herrington.

After the match, Egypt’s head coach Hossam Hassan dedicated the victory to the people of war-torn Palestine, expressing prayers for their peace and honoring their resilience. His emotional message quickly spread across social media, sparking rare scenes of celebration in Gaza, where residents gathered amid ruins to watch the game on makeshift screens.

Videos shared online showed children with Egyptian flags painted on their faces and crowds cheering in the devastated streets. For many in Gaza, Egypt’s triumph brought a brief moment of joy and unity amid ongoing hardship.