Substitutes
Substitutes
Match Preview
- Group G finale sees Egypt (Pot 2) and Iran (Pot 3) clash for a potential knockout berth. Egypt, under Hossam Hassan (their record scorer with 69 international goals), returns after an 8-year absence since Russia 2018 for their fourth World Cup. Iran makes their fourth consecutive appearance (7th overall) but has never escaped the group stage in six prior attempts — a Round of 16 berth would be historic. Depending on opening results against New Zealand and Belgium, this could be the decider.
- Egypt revolves around 34-year-old Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, 116 caps, 67 goals) — their captain and talisman likely playing his second and final World Cup. He lines up as the No.10 with Trézéguet (Al Ahly, ex-Aston Villa, 95 caps, 23 goals) on the left and Mostafa Fiko up front instead of Omar Marmoush (Manchester City, joined January 2025, 48 caps, 11 goals) who starts on the bench. The midfield duo of Mahmoud Saber (ZED, 24) and Mohanad Lasheen (Pyramids, 30) orchestrate transitions instead of the benched Marwan Attia (Al Ahly).
- Iran deploys a 5-4-1 with Mehdi Taremi (Olympiacos, 105 caps, 60 goals) as the lone striker. The 33-year-old ace — Porto's former top scorer and 2025 Champions League finalist with Inter — leads the line with support from wide midfielders Mohammad Mohebi (Rostov, 27, 36 caps, 14 goals) and Saman Ghodoos (Kalba, 32, ex-Brentford, 67 caps, 3 goals). Saeid Ezatolahi (Shabab Al-Ahli, 29, 190cm, 82 caps) anchors the midfield while goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand (Tractor, 33, 86 caps) — who famously saved Ronaldo's penalty at Russia 2018 — guards the net.
- The tactical battle pits Egypt's 4-2-3-1 numerical midfield advantage against Iran's compact 5-4-1 block. Can Egypt exploit the center or will Iran's five-man defense suffocate the flanks? The key matchup features Salah and Trézéguet against Iran's wing-backs Milad Mohammadi (Persepolis, 32, 75 caps) and Ramin Rezaeian (Foolad, 36, 73 caps, 7 goals) — their defensive discipline could determine the outcome.
- Egypt's backline features 26-year-old Mostafa Shobeir (Al Ahly, 8 caps) in goal ahead of veteran Mohamed El-Shenawy (Al Ahly, 37, 76 caps, multiple CAF Champions League titles). Center-backs Mohamed Abdelmonem (Nice, 27, ex-Al Ahly, 35 caps, 3 goals) and Ramy Rabia (Al Ain, 33, ex-Sporting CP, 44 caps, 5 goals) form an experienced partnership tasked with neutralizing Taremi's aerial threat and hold-up play.
- From the bench, Egypt's Omar Marmoush (Manchester City, 27) and Iran's Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Dender, 32, 98 caps, 17 goals, ex-Brighton) offer game-changing options. Marmoush topped Bundesliga scoring charts at Frankfurt before his January 2025 move to City, while Jahanbakhsh made history as the first Asian to win a European top-flight golden boot (AZ Alkmaar 2017-18, 21 goals). Both teams possess decisive substitution cards for this crucial encounter.