Egypt's historic 3-1 comeback victory over New Zealand did more than deliver the Pharaohs' first-ever World Cup win. It also moved them into a strong position in Group G and brought qualification for the Round of 32 within touching distance.

With one group-stage match remaining against Iran, Egypt now have four points from two matches after drawing with Belgium and defeating New Zealand. That leaves several possible paths to the knockout stage—and several possible opponents waiting on the other side.

First Place Would Open the Most Favorable Route

If Egypt defeat Iran and finish top of Group G, the Pharaohs would qualify as group winners and face one of the tournament's best third-placed teams in the Round of 32.

The exact opponent cannot yet be determined because the final ranking of third-placed teams across the tournament remains unresolved. However, Egypt could potentially face a team emerging from groups that include countries such as Mexico, Germany, Spain, France or Argentina.

For that reason, finishing first would not only secure qualification but could also provide a more favorable route through the knockout rounds.

Second Place Could Lead to a Different Challenge

If Egypt finish second in Group G, their Round of 32 opponent would come from Group D.

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That group includes the United States, Australia and Paraguay, with the final standings still to be decided. Depending on the outcome of the remaining matches, Egypt could face one of the strongest teams in that section.

What If Egypt Finish Third?

Unlike previous World Cups, finishing third no longer means automatic elimination. The eight best third-placed teams across the 12 groups also qualify for the Round of 32.

If Egypt end the group stage in third place and secure one of those qualification spots, they would face the winner of either Group B or Group I in the Round of 32.

Group B includes Canada, Switzerland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Qatar, while Group I features Norway, France, Senegal, and Iraq. At the moment, France are widely expected to challenge for top spot in Group I, while Canada lead a competitive race in Group B.

That means a third-place finish could set up a difficult knockout tie against one of the tournament's strongest group winners. For that reason, Egypt will be aiming to avoid relying on the best third-placed route and instead secure direct qualification through a top-two finish.