- Full Time
- 88'Ibrahim Adel on for Hamdi Fathy
- 88'Karim Hafez on for Ahmed Fatouh
- H. Vanaken on for K. De Bruyne86'
- M. Fernandez-Pardo on for J. Doku86'
- 76'Hamza Abdelkarim on for Mohamed Salah
- 76'Zizo on for Mostafa Zico
- M. De Cuyper75'
- 71'Ramy Rabia on for Emam Ashour
- R. Lukaku on for C. De Ketelaere66'
- Mohamed Hany (OG)66'
- M. De Cuyper on for A. Onana56'
- N. Raskin on for T. Castagne56'
- Half Time
- 34'Ahmed Fatouh
- 19'Emam Ashour
- T. Castagne14'
- 13'Marwan Attia
- Kick Off
-
1
Emam Ashour1
- 1Omar Marmoush5
- 2
Kevin De Bruyne4 - 3Leandro Trossard3
- 1Mohanad Lasheen6
- 2Mohamed Hany5
- 3Timothy Castagne4
- 1Mohamed Salah1
- 1Mohamed Salah3
- 2Leandro Trossard3
- 3Youri Tielemans3
- 1Nathan Ngoy69
- 2Brandon Mechele56
- 3Yasser Ibrahim48
- 1Omar Marmoush4
- 2Jérémy Doku3
- 3Leandro Trossard3
- 1Charles De Ketelaere3
- 2Nathan Ngoy3
- 3Mohanad Lasheen3
Honours were shared between Belgium and Egypt in their 2026 World Cup Group G opener in Seattle.
Egypt proved the more lively side from the off, offering more urgency in possession and more aggression off the ball, which helped create a couple of decent opportunities for the underdogs early on.
The Pharaohs were finally rewarded for their patience in the 21st minute as Emam Ashour put them 1-0 ahead with a fantastic low strike. Mohamed Salah provided a great ball on the edge of the penalty box for Ashour, who left Thibaut Courtois with no chance of stopping what was his first goal for his country.
Belgium struggled to retain possession for large spells, with talisman Kevin De Bruyne unable to create any real incisive moments. Fellow midfielders Amadou Onana and captain Youri Tielemans also had little time and impact on the ball as Egypt’s midfield ran and pressed tirelessly to limit Rudi Garcia’s side.
Having failed to register a single shot on target in the opening 45 minutes, Belgium needed to see an improvement after the break.
Egypt started the second half as they ended the first, and could have been two goals up had Mostafa Zico connected properly with his weaker foot after a great surge into the box.
Shortly after, De Bruyne produced Belgium’s best effort up to that point with a free-kick from 20 yards which struck the outside of the post.
Substitute Romelu Lukaku’s presence was immediately felt when Belgium equalised just seconds after he entered the field, although the Belgian was denied his 91st international goal as Mohamed Hany touched the ball into his own goal.
Egypt threw everything they had at this game up until the last kick, but were unable to successfully find a winner.
The Pharaohs’ search for a first World Cup win continues, however, they were good value for their draw, and can deservedly hold their heads high after this Group G opener.
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