2026 FIFA World Cup: Egypt came within touching distance of first ever World Cup win before being held to a 1-1 draw by Belgium in their Group G opener in Seattle.
The Pharaohs stunned Belgium in the first half when Emam Ashour rifled a powerful 20-yard effort beyond Thibaut Courtois after being set up by Mohamed Salah in the 19th minute.
Egypt looked set to secure their first-ever World Cup win, having previously failed to win any of their seven matches at the tournament since their debut in 1934.
However, Belgium found a way back midway through the second half when Thomas Meunier delivered a dangerous low cross that was accidentally turned into his own net by Egypt defender Mohamed Hany under pressure from substitute Romelu Lukaku.
Despite dominating possession for long periods, Belgium struggled to break down Egypt’s disciplined defence, with stars like Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku unable to consistently create clear-cut chances.
For Egypt, the result still marked a significant achievement as they avoided defeat at the World Cup for only the third time in their history.
The seven-time African champions were also backed by a passionate crowd inside Seattle Stadium, where more than 66,000 fans witnessed one of Africa’s strongest performances of the tournament so far.
The draw leaves Group G finely balanced heading into the next round of fixtures, while Belgium will face growing scrutiny after another underwhelming start on the global stage.
