Egypt held 1-1 by Belgium in World Cup 2026 Group G opener after late equaliser

Seattle, June 2026 : Egypt came agonisingly close to scripting a historic first-ever FIFA World Cup victory but were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against Belgium in their Group G opener at the FIFA World Cup 2026, in a match defined by early brilliance and late heartbreak.

Egypt took the lead in the 19th minute through Emam Ashour, who finished calmly after a superb assist from Mohamed Salah. The Liverpool forward split the Belgian defence with a perfectly weighted pass, allowing Ashour to take a composed touch before firing a low shot past world-class goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. The strike marked Ashour’s first international goal and sent Egyptian fans into celebration as the African side seized control of the contest.

The match, played at the Lumen Field, saw Egypt maintain their discipline and structure for long stretches, frustrating Belgium’s attacking stars and limiting clear chances. The North African side not only protected their lead with resilience but also displayed growing confidence on football’s biggest stage.

Belgium, however, gradually increased pressure in the second half, introducing experienced striker Romelu Lukaku to add physical presence in the attacking third. The breakthrough came in the 66th minute when Thomas Meunier delivered a dangerous cross into the box, forcing panic in the Egyptian defence. In an unfortunate turn, defender Mohamed Hany inadvertently diverted the ball into his own net, bringing Belgium level.

The equaliser shifted momentum, but Egypt continued to compete fiercely, refusing to drop deep or surrender control easily. Despite late Belgian pressure, the match ended all square, leaving both sides with a point in a tightly contested Group G.

Scorers: Egypt – Emam Ashour (19’); Belgium – Mohamed Hany (own goal, 66’).

For Egypt, the draw carried mixed emotions. While victory slipped away, the performance marked a clear improvement on their previous World Cup outings. The team managed to hold a lead deep into the match against a European heavyweight and surpassed their earlier record of 29 minutes spent ahead in World Cup fixtures. The result also strengthened belief within the squad that they can compete at the highest level.

Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia acknowledged the difficulty of the encounter, praising both sides for a high-quality contest. Speaking after the match, he highlighted the importance of squad depth, noting that Belgium’s equaliser came through a substitute, underlining the impact of players coming off the bench.

Egypt forward Hamza Abdelkarim reflected on the team’s effort, saying the players gave everything on the pitch despite being held to a draw. He also thanked supporters for creating an inspiring atmosphere and emphasised respect for Belgium’s quality and experience.

With Group G now finely balanced, both Egypt and Belgium remain in contention, but Egypt will draw confidence from a performance that pushed one of Europe’s strongest sides to the limit and signalled their intent on the world stage.

Team Maverick.