Egypt’s qualification for the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup has garnered widespread attention in the global media, after the “Pharaohs” secured their passage following a 1-1 draw with Iran, in a match that was exciting until the final seconds, in addition to Mohamed Salah’s injury which worried the fans.
BBC: A dramatic ending saved Egypt
The BBC described the match as one of the most exciting of the round, noting that the Egyptian team experienced tense moments in stoppage time after a goal by Iran was disallowed by video technology due to offside.
She added that the Iranian team was just steps away from snatching victory, after one of the balls hit the post, before their joy was dispelled by a goal that was canceled after a video review, allowing the Egyptian team to maintain their qualification card.
Daily Mail: Salah’s injury worries Egyptians
For its part, the British Daily Mail highlighted Mohamed Salah’s exit during the second half, considering the injury to the Egyptian national team captain to be the most prominent scene of the match.
The newspaper indicated that Salah left the field after feeling pain, while the medical staff placed ice packs on his knee, awaiting medical examinations that will determine his participation in the round of 32.
Hossam Hassan’s statements were also reported, in which he confirmed that the player had requested the substitution himself, and that his condition would be subject to medical evaluation in the coming hours.
ESPN: VAR decision settles the debate
As for the American network ESPN, it focused on the most exciting moment of the match, which was the cancellation of Iran’s goal during stoppage time.
The network confirmed that the video referee’s decision was correct according to the offside law, explaining that the review of the footage proved that there was a clear violation, and the match ended in a draw which gave the Egyptian national team a ticket to the next round.
The world’s newspapers agreed that the Egyptian national team succeeded in overcoming one of the toughest matches of the group stage, but they also pointed out that Mohamed Salah’s health situation will be the most prominent issue within the “Pharaohs” camp before the start of the round of 32 competitions.
