Aiden O'Neill in peak form, but Australia bows out of World Cup on penalties

Aiden O'Neill played some of the best soccer of his life in the back-to-back biggest games of his life, doing all he could to help Australia into the World Cup knockout rounds, but not enough to get them past Egypt in the Round of 32.

The Socceroos played to a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes but then lost the penalty shootout, 4-2, sending them out of the World Cup and sending Egypt into the Round of 16. Australia has still never won a knockout game at the World Cup despite qualifying for every tournament played since 2006.

That's no fault of O'Neill's, nor of his New York City FC teammate Kai Trewin — Trewin made his World Cup debut as a substitute to begin the second half against Egypt and held his own in his first and only action of the tournament, though wasn't called upon to take a penalty kick during Australia's ill-fated shootout despite some positive PK history under his belt.

O'Neill, though, was a consistent star for Australia during this tournament. The 27-year-old of NYCFC started and played 90 minutes in every single one of Australia's matches played during their World Cup run. He was removed by Socceroos coach Tony Popovic before extra time against Egypt, perhaps an acknowledgment that O'Neill wasn't quite ready to be pushed beyond 90 minutes.

In his time out there, O'Neill was a steady, underrated presence in Australia's midfield. That was again the case against Egypt, with O'Neill positively filling the stat sheet and having a direct hand in the lone goal Australia scored in regulation. O'Neill took on the role of set-piece delivery specialist this tournament, and his free kick led directly to the own goal from Egypt's Mohamed Hany that drew the Socceroos level in the second half.

Australia makes it 1-1 at Dallas Stadium 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/v64NZIR5a4

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 3, 2026

O'Neill led the Socceroos with five chances created across their four World Cup games played, an impressive creation rate for a player known more for his defensive steel in midfield.

With Australia, there wasn't a clear chance-creator out there for the majority of their tournament run. O'Neill became their de facto midfield maestro, the one midfielder for Australia who would consistently try to pick out his attacking teammates with forward passes.

When you watch him with New York City FC, the creative work is usually left to other midfielders further advanced than him, but O'Neill took more on his shoulders with his national team at the World Cup. He still did the usual midfield dirty work we see, with 4.8 ball recoveries per-90-minutes, the second-highest number among Australia players.

O'Neill also drew the most fouls of any Australia player, absorbing eight fouls across his four matches played. His most-heralded performance before the Egypt loss was the match that directly preceded it, a 0-0 slog with Paraguay to close out Australia's Group D schedule.

The NYCFC midfielder was named Player of the Match for his performance vs Paraguay in what was a true stalemate, producing the fifth-lowest combined expected goals (xG) of any World Cup match played in the 21st century.

His work against Paraguay got Australia into the knockouts, as they needed at least a draw to ensure advancement and got it, finishing second in Group D behind the United States. In that group finale, O'Neill completed six passes into the final third, created two chances, and had five ball recoveries. His performance didn't unlock a goal against Paraguay, but his dead-ball delivery did it against Egypt.

He did many positive things against Mo Salah and Co. in the Round of 32, again pushing the ball forward when he could and again the midfielder creating the most for the Socceroos.

The run at the World Cup didn't end how O'Neill, Trewin, or the rest of the Socceroos would have liked, but the two NYCFC players on that Australia roster did what they could. O'Neill only really struggled once at the World Cup and it was in the only match in which Australia was beaten in regulation, when they lost 2-0 to an ascendent United States men's national team.

Australia's biggest problem throughout their World Cup was a glaring lack of goalscoring. The last goal scored by an Australia player came back in the 75th minute of their World Cup opener against Türkiye when they pulled off a surprise 2-0 win. The own goal (created by O'Neill's delivery) helped them extend their tournament life against Egypt, but the Aussies' inability to open up defenses, plus some questionable decisions made by their coach in the shootout against Egypt, ultimately cost them a chance to advance beyond this first knockout round.

O'Neill did all he possibly could to get Australia past Egypt, after doing plenty to get his team into the knockouts in the first place. He'll return to New York City FC likely disappointed to go out when his team did, but with lots to be proud of from his four World Cup appearances.