Egypt vs Iran - World Cup

The World Cup returns to the home ground on June 27, 2026, where Egypt and Iran will lock horns in a contest that could shape their respective campaigns. The 74-year-old Hoops boss admitted that "it'll be a bit strange not having the (Celtic) fans in but I'm nervously and excitedly looking forward to it; it's a great fixture" and also spoke about the police visit.

Both camps will view the World Cup meeting at the home ground as an opportunity to put a marker down, regardless of where they currently stand. Egypt's recent form is difficult to quantify, but the occasion itself should bring the best out of them. The visitors will travel in the hope that a change of scene can spark a turnaround, whatever the form book says. In terms of net spend, Liverpool topped the table with £219.4m, followed by Ipswich (£190.7m), Spurs (£176m) and Hull (£160.5m).

The tactical subplot is compelling: Egypt favour a possession-based game built on patience and control, while Iran are happiest sitting deep and exploding forward on the counter — a classic contrast of philosophies. They are sticking to the principles of possession and pressing that have taken them from the fourth tier.

Game-changers are scattered across both line-ups, and the contest may well be decided by which side's match-winners deliver on the day. Set-piece specialists and aerial threats on both sides mean dead-ball situations could carry outsized importance. On his Arsenal debut against Girona, Tzolis strode forward with confidence at his defender, cut inside defiantly and slotted an effort into the bottom corner, via a slight deflection.

Predicting an outright winner is no easy task given how little separates the two sides on paper. The signals point towards a stalemate, with the two sides closely matched across form and standings. A 1-1 draw is easy to envisage. The ramifications of this result could ripple through the World Cup standings for weeks to come, regardless of who comes out on top. It is understood that his next move is most likely to take him abroad - and potentially to the Premier League.