Egypt v Iran LIVE: Score and updates as Mo Salah’s men pegged back in Group G clash

It doesn’t matter – Iran are level!

Shobeier saves again really well down low to his left but Iran’s Ramin Rezaeian is first to the loose goal and fires into the roof of the net from a tight angle!

Taremi is fouled in the box after nipping to a loose ball first but his penalty is well-saved by Egypt keeper Mostafa Shobeir!

Egypt take the lead early on here! Mohamed Salah’s tame effort is parried wide by the goalkeeper and midfielder Mahmoud Saber strikes home with his left-foot!

Quite how Saber’s shot found its way through both the keeper and the defender on the line I don’t know… but Egypt are ahead!

Mohamed Salah’s Egypt gets us underway then.

Egypt need a point to guarantee progression; Iran need a win.

I wasn’t at Iran’s two games in LA, but the jeering for the national anthem at SoFi seemed louder than just then.

A smattering of boos at the start, before complete respect for the anthem.

It has been some atmosphere on the walk across the waterfront to Lumen Field this afternoon.

Thousands of Egyptian and Iranian fans, as well as protestors against the Iranian regime. I’ve also seen an anti-Israel protest and an anti-Trump banner, as well as Palestine and Lebanon flags.

Truth be told, the one flag I have not seen a lot of – given it is technically the locally organised rainbow game – is the rainbow flag.

Still, on the pitch, it’s a big moment for both teams. Iran need to win to guarantee qualification.

England have qualified for the World Cup 2026 knockout stages after results in other groups went their way on Friday night.

The former Tottneham boss said on ITV: “It’s just a great story for what the World Cup is all about. We often talk about how football touches every part of the globe and this is what it can do. Get on the main stage and they finished second in their group.

“I think they’d love to play Argentina, it just adds to their story. Playing against the reigning champions. What a great story it’s been.”

Marcelo Bielsa has failed to progress from the group stage in two of his three World Cup campaigns: with Argentina in 2002 and Uruguay in 2026.

His only successful group-stage campaign came with Chile in 2010.