World Cup 2026: Australia in 3-4-2-1 against Egypt’s 4-2-3-1 as Salah starts

Both teams have revealed their official lineups for this fixture. Australia, led by Tony Popovic, have opted for a 3-4-2-1 system, while Hossam Hassan’s Egypt line up in a 4-2-3-1. The clash is expected to be tactical and technical, with the teams relying on several key players to prevail in a high-pressure setting.

For Australia, goalkeeper Patrick Beach will start between the posts. The three-man defence will feature Alessandro Circati, Harry Souttar and Lucas Herrington. The midfield is made up of Jordan Bos, Aiden O’Neill, Jackson Irvine and Aziz Behich, tasked with both ball recovery and distribution. In attack, Cristian Volpato and Connor Metcalfe will operate in support of centre-forward Nestory Irankunda.

For Egypt, goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir will start. The four-man defensive line will include Mohamed Hany, Rami Rabia, Yasser Ibrahim and Karim Hafez. The midfield double pivot will pair Marwan Attia and Mahmoud Saber, while the attacking trio of Emam Ashour, Mostafa Ziko and Mohamed Salah will support striker Omar Marmoush. Mohamed Salah, despite a recent strain, will indeed start the match and represents a major asset for Egypt.

How Australia’s XI shapes up

The 3-4-2-1 system devised by Tony Popovic is based on a powerful three-man central defence led by Harry Souttar, supported by Alessandro Circati and Lucas Herrington. These players are tasked with handling Egypt’s pressure while providing wide coverage. The midfield is very compact, with four players who will have to control the flanks and win the ball back. Among them, Jackson Irvine plays a key role in the team’s tactical balance.

In attack, Connor Metcalfe and Cristian Volpato will occupy the secondary attacking zones, bringing creativity and support to Nestory Irankunda, who leads the line alone. The absence of players such as Mathew Leckie and Jacob Italiano is felt, but Popovic is counting on a solid collective unit to counter a fast and technical Egyptian team.

How Egypt’s XI shapes up

Hossam Hassan fields a classic 4-2-3-1 formation with a defence organised around Rami Rabia and Yasser Ibrahim. The midfield pair of Marwan Attia and Mahmoud Saber combines defensive work with the construction of attacks. The attacking sector relies heavily on Mohamed Salah, the Pharaohs’ main threat, supported by Emam Ashour on the right and Mostafa Ziko on the left.

Omar Marmoush will play as the centre-forward. Egypt are banking on the speed of their attackers to unsettle the Australian centre-backs. Despite a few confirmed absences, notably Hamdy Fathy and Hossam Abdelmaguid, the Egyptian side present a competitive and experienced XI.