Seattle, June 16: Egypt faced disappointment after missing a historic victory against Belgium, settling for a 1-1 draw in their opening match of Group G at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The Egyptian team, known as the ‘Pharaohs’, showcased disciplined and tenacious gameplay. In the 19th minute, Imam Ashour scored, giving the team hope for their first World Cup win. The attack began with a brilliant play by Mohamed Salah, whose precise pass broke through Belgium’s defense. Ashour skillfully controlled the ball and delivered a powerful low shot, deceiving goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois for his first international goal.
Egypt maintained their lead into the second half, successfully staving off attacks from Belgium’s star players for a significant period.
However, Belgium equalized in the 66th minute. Shortly after coming off the bench, Romelu Lukaku’s presence disrupted Egypt’s defense. Thomas Meunier delivered a dangerous cross, and defender Mohamed Hany inadvertently scored an own goal, leveling the match for Belgium.
Despite the setback, Egypt’s performance on football’s biggest stage marked a significant step forward. The North African team not only secured a crucial point but also broke their previous record of holding a lead for 29 minutes in World Cup matches.
This result has made Group G even more intriguing. Egypt gained considerable confidence from this performance, having given a tough fight to one of Europe’s traditional powerhouses.
According to FIFA, Belgium’s coach, Rudy Garcia, remarked, “The first match in a tournament like the World Cup is always challenging, especially against a top African team like Egypt. The most important thing is that we stayed in the game. We managed to equalize thanks to the contributions from players who came off the bench, demonstrating the importance of the entire team. It was a fantastic match between two very good teams.”
Egyptian forward Hamza Abdelkarim stated, “In the end, we got a point, but we gave it our all. We know Belgium is a strong team with excellent players. The atmosphere was fantastic, so we must thank the fans.”
The goal scorers included Imam Ashour for Egypt (19th minute) and Mohamed Hany for Belgium (own goal, 66th minute).
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