Palestinians in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, celebrated Egypt’s historic victory after the Pharaohs defeated Australia 4-2 in a penalty shootout to qualify for the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The celebrations reflected the strong support many Palestinians have shown for the Egyptian national team during the tournament.
Egypt secured the memorable win after the match ended 1-1 following extra time, with the team holding its nerve in the penalty shootout to book a place in the knockout stage. The result marked a major milestone in Egyptian football history.
With the victory, Egypt became the second African and Arab nation, after Morocco, to reach the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. More importantly, it is the first time Egypt has ever progressed to the Round of 16 in the history of the FIFA World Cup.
The historic achievement has been widely celebrated by Egyptian fans and supporters across the Arab world, as the national team continues its impressive World Cup journey with hopes of making an even deeper run in the tournament.
