Egypt, Morocco, Algeria make World Cup history in knockout stage

June 30, 2026 adminsr

Three North African nations remain in contention at the 2026 World Cup, marking the first time Morocco, Algeria and Egypt have all reached the knockout stage of the same tournament.

Morocco was the first to advance to the Round of 16 after defeating the Netherlands 3-2 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw on Monday. The victory extended the Atlas Lions’ unbeaten run.

Morocco players run as Ismael Saibari #11 scores the team’s fifth and winning penalty during the penalty shootout in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match with the Netherlands at Monterrey Stadium on June 29, 2026, in Guadalupe, Mexico. (Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Morocco will next face Canada in Houston on July 4 after the Canadians edged South Africa 1-0 to reach the Round of 16. The winner will advance to the quarterfinals.

In 2022, Morocco became the first African and first Arab nation to reach the semifinals.

Algeria will be the next North African side in action when it faces Switzerland in Vancouver on July 2. The Swiss arrive unbeaten after topping Group B with seven points, defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina 4-1 and Canada 2-1 before drawing Qatar 1-1.

Algeria’s route to the knockout stage was considerably more dramatic. The Desert Foxes opened with a 2-1 victory over Jordan before suffering a 3-0 defeat to Argentina. They salvaged qualification with a 3-3 draw against Austria, conceding a stoppage-time Austrian equalizer that dropped Algeria from second to third place in Group J. Algeria’s four points were enough to send them through as one of the tournament’s eight best third-place group finishers.

Algerian defender #17 Rafik Belghali celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the 2026 World Cup Group J match between Algeria and Austria at the Kansas City Stadium in Kansas City on June 27, 2026. (Juan Mabromata/AFP via Getty Images)

This is Algeria’s fifth World Cup appearance and its first since 2014. The country previously qualified in 1982, 1986, 2010 and 2014.

Egypt will close out North Africa’s Round of 32 campaign against Australia in Dallas on July 3. The winner will advance to face either Argentina or Cape Verde in the Round of 16 on July 7.

Both teams are chasing milestones. Egypt enters the match after recording its first-ever World Cup victory, defeating New Zealand 1-0 last Sunday. The Pharaohs had previously qualified for the tournament in 1934, 1990 and 2018 but had never won a match, making this their first appearance in the knockout stage.

Australia, meanwhile, is seeking its first-ever victory in a World Cup knockout match.

The two sides faced each other previously at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, when Egypt eliminated Australia’s medal hopes with a 2-0 win.

Players of Team Egypt celebrate after winning the Men’s Group C match between Australia and Egypt on day five of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Miyagi Stadium on July 28, 2021, in Rifu, Miyagi, Japan. (Koki Nagahama/Getty Images)

Much of the pre-match attention has centered on the fitness of star winger and captain Mohamed Salah, who exited Egypt’s final group-stage match against Iran with more than 30 minutes remaining and was seen icing his left leg. Team doctor Mohamed Aboul Ela said Salah is dealing with a strain in his posterior muscles and has begun a treatment program.

The Round of 32 concludes on July 3, with the Round of 16 beginning the following day.