Belgium 1-1 Egypt
A World Cup point apiece in Seattle and, when the dust settles, perhaps both Belgium and Egypt will look back at this hard-fought draw with a degree of satisfaction.
This Group G encounter wasn’t full of World Cup 2026 highlights but the game improved as it wore on and, with Iran and New Zealand to come, both nations can be optimistic of building on this result.
Highlights of the game
In truth, the pressure was all on a Belgium side comprising the likes of Thibaut Courtois, captain Kevin de Bruyne and the country’s all-time top scorer – Romelu Lukaku – who started on the bench as he works his way back to full fitness.
They were big favourites with the SBOTOP World Cup 2026 betting odds yet Egypt, who were unbeaten in qualifying and booked their ticket to North America with a game to spare, had plenty of incentive.
They were chasing their first ever victory in the tournament, bidding to reach the knockout stages for the first time and had star man Mohamed Salah closing in on Hossam Hassan’s record as Egypt’s all-time leading scorer, needing just two more goals to draw level (despite having played 61 fewer matches than the man now patrolling the touchline).
Any of those achievements would be the perfect answer to the detractors, albeit small in number, who criticised Hassan during the Africa Cup of Nations at the start of the year. Following their semi-final exit, he was challenged by journalists about what they called the team’s technical shortcomings, prompting an angry reaction.
The official records actually show the Pharaohs reached the last 16 at the 1934 World Cup (when they were officially classed as 13th) but the format of that competition meant they actually only played one game, a 4-2 loss to Hungary.
Twenty one minutes in and Egypt dared to dream as Emam Ashour’s superb strike from the edge of the penalty area found the corner – it takes something special to beat the Belgian number one from that distance.
It would have been two for the Pharaohs just after the half hour mark had Courtois not been alert to keep out a long range Mostafa Zico effort.
Eight minutes after the restart and the classy de Bruyne thought he had levelled only to see a curling free-kick ping off the post.
As the match opened up, so did the chances and, once Ashour failed to convert after Courtois had kept out Salah, two former Manchester City team mates had moments within 20 seconds of each other.
First, De Bruyne couldn’t get his feet right as a glimpse of goal opened up before Egypt countered and Omar Marmoush showed great pace but fired into the side netting under pressure from Belgium defenders.
Youri Tielemans, such an influence for Aston Villa, produced a superb volley inches wide following a corner and De Bruyne placed a shot straight at the goalkeeper as the Belgium threat grew.
Marmoush then had a shot deflected wide as the game went from end-to-end but it was international football’s Red Devils who were getting on top.
Belgium, who scored 29 goals in World Cup qualifying, needed their main man and he made an immediate impact just before the midway point of the second half.
Just 22 seconds after entering the fray, Lukaku burst powerfully into the box and stretched to reach Thomas Meunier’s pass across goal.
Although it looked like he had equalised, replays showed the ball went in off the foot of centre back Mohamed Hany but there was no question his presence had the desired impact though and Belgium were level.
They retained an edge but this was no-one way traffic.
Centre back Brandon Mechele had key moments twice in as many minutes as his goalbound header was pushed away by Mostafa Shobeir before the same player produced after Marmoush pulled the trigger.
And so Egypt’s wait for a World Cup win goes on.
No African nation has won more continental titles, yet they remain one of the continent’s World Cup underachievers.
Based on this performance, however, it may well come over the next few weeks.
Yes, like many African nations, they have benefited greatly from Fifa’s 48-team tournament expansion, but there is enough talent in the ranks so don’t be surprised if that elusive victory arrives soon.
Key statistics
This was De Bruyne’s 27th major tournament appearance (World Cup and European Championships) – the outright most of any Belgium player.
Egypt have lost only one of their five meetings with Belgium.
What’s next?
Both sides are next in action in just under a week’s time. On Sunday (June 21) the Belgians meet Iran, a few hours before Egypt face New Zealand.
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