Egypt produced a resilient performance to earn a valuable 1-1 draw against Belgium in their opening Group G fixture at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Seattle.
The Pharaohs made a dream start, stunning the Belgians midway through the first half when midfielder Emam Ashour fired them into the lead with a superb low strike from just outside the penalty area that beat goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
The goal marked only the second time Egypt have led a World Cup match, following Mohamed Salah’s opener against Saudi Arabia in 2018.
Belgium, featuring stars like Kevin De Bruyne, dominated possession but struggled to break down a disciplined Egyptian defence before half-time. De Bruyne came closest with a well-struck free-kick that crashed against the outside of the post.
Egypt had chances to extend their advantage after the break, with Salah forcing a sharp save from Courtois, but they were unable to convert.
Belgium manager Rudi Garcia introduced Romelu Lukaku from the bench, and the move paid off as the striker’s presence forced defender Mohamed Hany into an unfortunate own goal, levelling the score.
Despite late pressure from the Red Devils, Egypt held firm to secure a hard-fought point.
The result gives the seven-time African champions a solid start in the group and keeps them in contention for the knockout stages ahead of matches against Iran and New Zealand. For Belgium, the draw continues a disappointing trend at recent World Cups.
