Here’s When To Catch The FIFA World Cup 2026 Australia Vs Egypt FIFA Knockout Match This Week

Whether you call it football or soccer, we can all agree that the FIFA World Cup is the most anticipated competition for fans of The Beautiful Game. And after a couple of stellar wins and draws, our hopes are high for our Aussie Socceroos. 

When Is The Next Socceroos FIFA World Cup 2026 Match?

The Socceroos are officially into the knockout stages, and their next FIFA World Cup 2026 clash is against Egypt in the Round of 32. The do-or-die showdown kicks off at 4am AEST on Saturday, 4 July (2am AWST), with a spot in the Round of 16 on the line. After an unbeaten group-stage campaign (we're counting the 0-0 draw as a win, okay), Australia now faces its biggest test yet—and its best chance to make fresh World Cup history.

Can The Socceroos Win The FIFA World Cup 2026?

Nothing says World Cup quite like believing the impossible. While Australia isn't among the tournament favourites, the Socceroos have already exceeded plenty of expectations to reach the knockout rounds undefeated. From here, every match is sudden death, meaning momentum, belief and a little football magic can go a long way. It'll take a monumental run to lift the trophy, but with Tony Popovic's side continuing to frustrate bigger nations and grow in confidence, writing them off now feels like a risky move.

Image credit: FIFA World Cup

What Other FIFA World Cup 2026 Matches Are Happening This Week?

Here's every remaining Round of 32 Fifa World Cup 2026 fixture this week you'll catch us watching round the clock.

Tuesday, 30 June: France vs Sweden — 7:00am AEST
Tuesday, 30 June: Côte d'Ivoire vs Norway — 11:00pm AEST
Wednesday, 1 July: Mexico vs Ecuador — 7:00am AEST
Wednesday, 1 July: England vs DR Congo — 10:00pm AEST
Thursday, 2 July: Belgium vs Senegal — 2:00am AEST
Thursday, 2 July: USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina — 6:00am AEST
Friday, 3 July: Spain vs Austria — 1:00am AEST
Friday, 3 July: Portugal vs Croatia — 5:00am AEST
Friday, 3 July: Switzerland vs Algeria — 9:00am AEST
Saturday, 4 July: Argentina vs Cabo Verde — 4:00am AEST
Saturday, 4 July: Colombia vs Ghana — 7:30am AEST
Saturday, 4 July: Australia vs Egypt — 4:00am AEST

Where Can I Watch The FIFA World Cup 2026?

While you might not be able to cheer on the Socceroos in the flesh, there are a few a sure-fire ways to watch the matches live from North America. In Australia, every match will be broadcast on SBS and SBS Viceland, and via streaming on SBS On Demand.

And if you're looking for a stadium vibe, why not join one of the many main live sites being hosted across the country, where you can watch the game and scream (or cry) along with fellow Socceroo fans? Here is a list of livestreaming sites by capital city:

Sydney: Parramatta Square, Tumbalong Park, and Allianz Stadium.

Melbourne: Federation Square, AAMI Park, and Marvel Stadium.

Brisbane: Southbank

Adelaide: The Drive

Perth: Northbridge Piazza

Darwin: Darwin Football Stadium

Better yet, the Socceroos group matches all kick off between 5am and 2pm in the Australia time zone, so there'll be no graveyard shift required to catch all the Aussie action.

Image credit: FIFA World Cup 

What Is The History Behind The FIFA World Cup?

More than a competition, the event is a pillar of sporting camaraderie that unites people from all walks nationalities and walks of life. So, let’s go back in time almost one hundred years ago to where it all began.

The very first FIFA World Cup took place in Uruguay on 13 July, 1930 (yes, the next tournament will be its centenary year), with all matches played in the country’s capital, Montevideo. Just thirteen teams participated by invitation, after seven European teams boycotted the event due to the long, costly sea voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. In the end, the host nation took home the first-ever World Cup in a nail biting game that resulted in Uruguay defeating Argentina 4–2 in the grand final.

How Many Teams Are Participating In The 2026 FIFA World Cup?

Fast forward to now, and there are 48 national teams participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making it the largest tournament in football history, expanding from the traditional 32-team format. Four nations – Cabo Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan – are making their historic World Cup debuts, joining the ranks of current World Cup champions, Argentina, and former winners Brazil (who have won the cup five times), Germany (with four wins), France and Uruguay (two wins each), and England and Spain, who have taken home the World Cup one time, respectively. 

Image credit: FIFA World Cup

Other notable mentions are this year’s host nations Canada, Mexico, and the U.S, and neighbouring Americas nations - Haiti and Panama. And then there’s the smaller European nations taking part – Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czechia, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkiye, and the Netherlands (who have reached the grand final three times and left empty-handed). 

Africa is well-represented this year with Algeria, Congo DR, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia, with the Asia and the Middle East contingent comprising Iran, Iraq, Japan, South Korea, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. The remaining South American spots are big-kickers Paraguay, Uruguay, Colombia, and Ecuador. Last, but certainly not least, is New Zealand and our very own Socceroos playing for Australia. Can I get an “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie?” 

As for starpower, the 2026 FIFA World Cup has a ridiculous amount, and is probably one of the most stacked tournaments ever with the likely last appearances of legends Messi and Ronaldo, and the current football generation arriving in the likes of France's Mbappé, the American Pulisic, and Norway's blond giant, Haaland.