IN BRIEF
- The Socceroos will front Egypt on Saturday in the World Cup Round of 32..
- The team have never won a knockout stage match at the World Cup.
The Socceroos have already delighted millions with the 0-0 draw against Paraguay that saw them progress to the World Cup Round of 32, and as they take on Egypt on Saturday, they're hoping to take things a step further.
Socceroos forward Tete Yengi said on Tuesday AEST Egypt will "be an aggressive team, they'll fight for everything".
But midfielder Jackson Irvine said the team are ready to do something "no Australian team has done before".
"Two World Cups in a row, two second places show the kind of steps we've made, but this was the expectation for us.
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"Now we've got to go and do something no Australian team has done before and win a knockout game," Irvine told SBS on Friday after the draw with Paraguay.
Yengi said the team would continue to work hard on the pitch and play a physical game.
"Physically, I think we're superior to the other teams. So as long as we keep working on that and we show the rest of the game on the ball, we have top-quality players," he said.
"Everyone on the pitch can hurt teams at any time."
In Saturday's knockout match against Egypt, the Socceroos could face Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah, though it's unclear if he'll start after coming off against Iran with a hamstring injury on Saturday.
Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush is yet to score but has created dangerous chances for Egypt so far.
Acknowledging the challenges from the two big-name players, the Socceroos' 18-year-old rising star Lucas Herrington said the team is ready to "make history".
"We all look forward to the occasion [against Egypt]," the defender said. "It's now a chance to make history, so now we can't wait, we are all ready."
Making his World Cup debut during the Friday match against Paraguay, which he described as "the best moment of my life", Herrington said he saw the match against Egypt as an opportunity for a young player like him to grow.
"It's nice to verse players like [Salah and Marmoush], that's where you want to be, that's who you want to verse."
Australia's World Cup record
The Socceroos made the knockout rounds for a second consecutive World Cup and only the third time ever. The team have only ever won four matches in World Cups, one of these coming against an African side, and none against a South American side.
This year was not the first time the Socceroos would be drawn against the hosts in the group stages. Australia’s first successful journey to the World Cup came in 1974, when they were drawn against hosts West Germany, who defeated the Socceroos in their first-ever World Cup match. They then lost to East Germany, while claiming a draw with Chile.
Australia then had to wait 32 years to qualify again for the World Cup. In 2006, they secured a 3-1 win against Japan, claiming their first-ever goal and win at the tournament. In their second group stage match they lost to Brazil, but a 2-2 draw against Croatia in their final group stage match was enough to send the Socceroos through to the Round of 16.
Their-first ever foray into the knockout stages ended in pain, however, after eventual winners Italy won 1-0 thanks to a controversial penalty.
In the following three World Cup tournaments — in 2010, 2014 and 2018 — Australia failed to advance from the group stage.
During the most recent World Cup — Qatar 2022 — the Socceroos secured two wins in the group stage for the first time, against Tunisia and Denmark. The team lost 4-1 to France, but earned enough points to make it to the Round of 16.
Still, Australia couldn’t get past the hurdle of the fourth match in a tournament, as they were defeated 2-1 by Argentina, the eventual champions, in the Round of 16.
At 4am AEST on Saturday, the Socceroos will be hoping to make history. A first-ever knockout stage will mean reaching the Round of 16 for a second consecutive tournament and playing a fifth match at the World Cup.
Should they beat Egypt at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, they will face either Argentina or debutantes Cape Verde.
You can watch all 104 matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ live, free and exclusive on SBS, SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand.
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