{"id":178622,"date":"2026-06-26T13:39:10","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T13:39:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/178622\/"},"modified":"2026-06-26T13:39:10","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T13:39:10","slug":"2026-world-cup-what-to-know-when-egypt-plays-iran-in-seattle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/178622\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 World Cup: What to know when Egypt plays Iran in Seattle"},"content":{"rendered":"

After hosting three games during the past two weeks, Seattle\u2019s FIFA Men\u2019s World Cup<\/a> slate is officially at the halfway mark.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And on Friday, Egypt, the seven-time CAF African Cup of Nations champions, returns to Seattle to face Iran, the three-time AFC Asian Cup champions, for the last game of Group G.<\/p>\n

Controversy swirls around the game, designated as the \u201cPride Match<\/a>\u201d by the city\u2019s World Cup organizers and featuring an Iranian team that\u2019s dealt with several logistical and bureaucratic challenges because of the war between its country and the United States.<\/p>\n

But there\u2019s still a game to be played, so here\u2019s what to watch as Egypt and Iran try to secure their spots in the knockout stage.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Egypt vs. Iran<\/p>\n

When: 8 p.m. Friday<\/p>\n

Where: Seattle Stadium<\/p>\n

TV: FS1 \u2014 Tyler Terens (play-by-play), Maurice Edu (color)<\/p>\n

Most recent matchup: Egypt and Iran have played only once before. On June 7, 2000, they played in the semifinals of the LG Cup, a friendly exhibition tournament. Egypt\u2019s Hossam Hassan, the Pharaohs\u2019 current coach, opened the scoring in the 52nd minute. But Iran\u2019s Ali Daei equalized six minutes later, sending the game to a penalty shootout that Egypt won 8-7.\u00a0The game was officially recorded as a draw.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Latest line (via DraftKings): Egypt -0.5, Total 1.5<\/p>\n

Key injuries: Egypt is facing an injury crisis on its back line. Center back Hamdy Fathy, who started both World Cup games, departed Egypt\u2019s 3-1 victory against New Zealand with a reported hamstring injury during the first half. He was replaced by defender Ramy Rabia.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Fathy wasn\u2019t the only defender Egypt lost against New Zealand. Center back Hossam Abdelmaguid entered the game in the 84th minute and played just four minutes before catching an elbow to the head from New Zealand\u2019s Michael Boxall. Abdelmaguid left the game and his availability remains uncertain because of concussion protocols.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Egypt may also be worried about its yellow-card situation. Three starters \u2014 left back Ahmed Fatouh and midfielders Mohanad Lasheen and Marwan Attia \u2014 have been booked during the group stage and will be suspended for the Round of 32 if they pick up a yellow card on Friday.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Iran is fully healthy entering the final game of Group G. <\/p>\n

Recent form: The Pharaohs, the Group G leaders entering Friday, have enjoyed a strong start to the World Cup. Egypt drew with Belgium<\/a>, 1-1, in a game Hassan\u2019s team led for 47 minutes in Seattle. Second-half goals from Mostafa Ziko, Mohamed Salah<\/a> and Mahmoud \u201cTr\u00e9z\u00e9guet\u201d Hassan sealed a 3-1 victory against New Zealand.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Pharaohs have won five of the 10 games they\u2019ve played in 2026 while losing just twice.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Iran opened its World Cup campaign on a more difficult note, salvaging a 2-2 draw against New Zealand thanks to a 64th-minute header from winger Mohammad Mohebbi. Coach Amir Ghalenoei\u2019s team drew 0-0 against 10-player Belgium on Sunday. Iran nearly came away with all three points, but Mehdi Taremi\u2019s set-piece goal in the 25th minute was disallowed when the striker was ruled inches offside.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ghalenoei\u2019s squad is unbeaten in their past five games.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The big story<\/p>\n

Egypt has significantly lower stakes to play for than Iran. The Pharaohs have already surpassed the four-point threshold likely needed to book their first-ever appearance in the knockout phase, though Hassan\u2019s team is still playing for seeding. A win will mean Egypt returns to Seattle for the Round of 32 on July 1.<\/p>\n

Iran\u2019s hopes of advancing are still in significant danger. A win against Egypt guarantees them a place in the Round of 32. A draw puts them on three points, leaving them mathematically susceptible to either Belgium or New Zealand, who play each other on Friday.<\/p>\n

A three-point third-place team will have to wait for results from other groups and rely on its goal differential. A loss to Egypt effectively eliminates Iran. <\/p>\n

Key matchup<\/p>\n

Egypt attacking midfielder Mohamed Salah vs. the Iran low block<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been a long time coming, but Salah, one of the greatest players of his generation, is finally getting his chance to shine at the World Cup. <\/p>\n

He assisted Emam Ashour\u2019s 19th-minute opener<\/a> against Belgium in Seattle on June 15. Salah scored and assisted to earn man-of-the-match honors against New Zealand.\u00a0He needs only one goal to tie Hassan as Egypt\u2019s all-time top scorer. All while playing a different position. <\/p>\n

Salah built his club-soccer reputation as a goal-scoring right winger. But at this World Cup, Salah, now 34, has been deployed as a central attacking midfielder behind a traditional striker.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a position that potentially thrives against a defensive team like Iran. Attacking midfielders sit in the horizontal space between the defensive and midfield lines, warping the opponent\u2019s defensive shape.\u00a0Iran\u2019s midfield duo of Ezatolahi and Saman Ghoddos will need to be constantly cognizant of Salah to limit Egypt\u2019s chances.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Key player<\/p>\n

Iran striker Mehdi Taremi<\/p>\n

The vast majority of Iran\u2019s national team plays club football in the country\u2019s domestic Persian Gulf Pro League. Taremi, 33, is Iran\u2019s most notable current soccer expatriate.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Taremi moved to Portugal in 2019, scoring 18 goals for Rio Ave during his first season in Europe. In 2020, he joined Portuguese giants FC Porto, where he scored 64 goals in 122 league appearances. A brief stop with Italian powerhouse Inter Milan followed before he transferred to Greek club Olympiacos in 2025.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Since debuting for Iran in 2015, Taremi, the team\u2019s vice captain, has made 107 appearances, seventh in Iran\u2019s history, and scored 60 goals, second only to Daei. Iran needs Taremi\u2019s goals if it wants to advance. <\/p>\n

Three other things to watch<\/p>\n

Can Omar Marmoush find some rhythm?<\/p>\n

While Salah has delivered for Egypt, striker Omar Marmoush has been less effective. <\/p>\n

The 27-year-old forward made a big midseason move from German club Eintracht Frankfurt to English powerhouse Manchester City during the 2024-25 season. But Marmoush struggled for playing time during 2025-26, stuck behind star striker Erling Haaland, who has four goals in two matches for Norway so far in the World Cup.<\/p>\n

Marmoush played the full 90 minutes against Belgium, taking five shots but putting none on target. He took three shots against New Zealand and generated one chance, but was substituted off in the 76th minute. He\u2019s the only Egyptian starting attacker without a goal or an assist at the World Cup. <\/p>\n

Goalkeepers in the spotlight\u00a0<\/p>\n

Iran and Egypt have enjoyed stellar goalkeeping at the World Cup. Hassan made the surprising decision to start Mostafa Shobeir and was rewarded by two solid performances. Shobeir made three saves against Belgium and four against New Zealand.<\/p>\n

Iran boasts Alireza Beiranvand, the 33-year-old veteran participating in his third World Cup. His seven-save performance earned him the man of the match against Belgium. Beiranvand\u2019s 6.5 saves per game rank third among all goalkeepers at the tournament.<\/p>\n

Mostafa Ziko arrives<\/p>\n

Egypt\u2019s most recent trip to Seattle didn\u2019t go particularly well for Ziko. The left winger was substituted after taking two shots in 76 minutes and creating one chance. <\/p>\n

But Ziko rebounded against New Zealand. His free header off a cross in the 58th minute brought Egypt level at 1-1. Nine minutes later, Ziko turned provider as his backheel flick in the 18-yard box found Salah for the Egyptian star\u2019s first World Cup goal.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Prediction<\/p>\n

Egypt 2, Iran 0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Even if the Pharaohs choose conservative tactics, Salah has played at such a high level through two World Cup games that it\u2019s hard to imagine keeping Egypt off the scoreboard. Iran\u2019s inability to put the ball in the net during nearly 30 minutes against 10-player Belgium also highlights worries about its goal-scoring capability.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Andy Yamashita: ayamashita@seattletimes.com<\/a>. Andy Yamashita is a sports reporter at The Seattle Times, primarily covering Washington Huskies football. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"After hosting three games during the past two weeks, Seattle\u2019s FIFA Men\u2019s World Cup slate is officially at…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":178623,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[3],"tags":[1216,655,34,2576,2577,39904],"class_list":["post-178622","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-iran","tag-belgium","tag-egypt","tag-iran","tag-soccer","tag-world-cup","tag-wpresize"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@iran\/116816691928779862","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/178622","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=178622"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/178622\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/178623"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=178622"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=178622"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=178622"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}