Nail-biter in the Group: Will Egypt’s U20 surge into the knockout rounds at the FIFA U-20 World Cup?
4 octobre 2025
Drama in stoppage time
Egypt’s players experienced a rollercoaster of emotions—grief, joy, and a flicker of hope—late in the Chile clash as the Pharaohs edged Chile 2-1 to close Group B at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Egypt looked set to bow out, the scores level at 1-1, until Omar Khadr struck the decisive goal in the dying moments after a dramatic stoppage-time sequence.
A late dispute over a 90+5 free kick was resolved when coach Osama Nabih instructed Khadr to take it, sending the ball into the net with a composed finish.
Fair-play shock and the group outcomes
The trio of Egypt, Chile and New Zealand finished on 3 points in Group B, with Egypt and Chile both on -2 goal difference while New Zealand trailed behind after a 3-0 loss to Japan.
New Zealand beat Egypt but lost to Japan and Chile; the standings opened the door for the fair-play criterion after all three had identical records on points and goal difference.
Under fair play, Chile advanced on five yellow cards to Egypt’s seven, handing the spot to the South American side.
Road to the knockouts and what Egypt needs
Egypt finished third with 3 points and a -2 goal difference, leaving their advancement chances dependent on matches in Groups C and D.
They sit above Cuba (1 point) in Group D, but Cuba face Australia in the final round; Australia occupy the last spot and Egypt would need one of several favorable outcomes to climb into the best third-placed ranking.
The other contender is Brazil, currently on one point in Group C and ahead of Spain on goal difference; Egypt would need a Brazil–Spain result that keeps both under pressure and a favorable outcome for Egypt in the final round to stay in contention.
Here are the scenarios that could send Egypt through to the knockout stage:
- Australia win over Cuba by a one-goal margin and Brazil–Spain draw.
- Cuba–Australia draw and Brazil–Spain draw.
Egypt’s delegation is watching the finale with bated breath, hoping for a decisive turn in their favor.
What’s next and the broader context
The Egyptian federation reportedly considered a formal line of action regarding an incident involving Chile and the team doctor, while stressing that the focus remains on delivering a competitive performance in every remaining match.
Egypt had earlier suffered defeats to Japan and New Zealand before beating Chile 2-1 in the last group game, a result that has left their fate hanging on the final round of group-stage games.
Egypt’s squad, staff, and supporters will be glued to the outcomes as they await possible advancement to the round of 16.
Punchline 1: If this group were a hunting party, the last-minute goal would be the sniper’s wink—spot-on, and everybody else missed the target.
Punchline 2: They say football is a simple game, but this group proves it’s basically a soap opera with extra minutes and a referee who carries a calculator.
