The Egyptian pharaohs are marching on to the Round of 32! After a thrilling group stage campaign that had it all, they've secured their place in the knockout stages. And what a dramatic finale it was against Iran at Lumen Field – a late VAR decision denied the Iranians a potential winning goal, sparking widespread outrage among the Iranian faithful.
For Iran's Amir Ghalenoei and his squad, the group stage curtain call was an emotional rollercoaster. Their hearts were in their mouths as they thought they'd snatched victory from the jaws of defeat – only for VAR to cruelly snatch it back with a narrow offside call that left them all shell-shocked.
Now Iran's fate hangs precariously in the balance, relying on the outcomes of three other matches tomorrow. Algeria v Austria, DR Congo v Uzbekistan, and Croatia v Ghana will all have a bearing on their chances – and bookmakers are giving them an 80% shot at still progressing, reflecting the intricate permutations at play.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the tournament, Belgium have booked their place in the Round of 32 and are set to face off against one of the Seattle minnows. It's highly likely they'll be pitted against the USA in the next round – with Spain looking ominous as a potential quarter-final opponent.
The World Cup has already thrown up some major shocks, with Turkey and Uruguay departing at this early stage. The Americans' morale-boosting win over Turkey was sweet solace for their fans, but Uruguay's elimination following a contentious match against Spain has raised questions about Marcelo Bielsa's future as boss.
Bielsa himself wasn't short on words – expressing disappointment and frustration at the Uruguayan FA: "I've not left anything behind in Uruguayan football... My time doesn't say much," he acknowledged, aware that his tenure had fallen woefully short of expectation.