Belgium 1-1 Egypt: Hany 66 o.g.; Ashour 20
Well, Romelu Lukaku came on and Belgium were saved, fighting back for a 1-1 draw against Egypt in their opening Group G match and denying the Pharaohs what would have been a landmark first World Cup victory.
Egypt looked set to begin their campaign with a famous result after Emam Ashour’s first international goal gave them a deserved first-half lead. Yet Belgium’s most familiar attacking player made an immediate impact after being introduced in the second half, forcing a mistake that led to a Mohamed Hany own goal.
Belgium entered the tournament as favourites to progress from Group G, but Egypt matched them for long periods and threatened to spring a major surprise. It was physical and fiercely contested at the beginning, both sides collecting early bookings. Egypt settled more quickly and grabbed their advantage after 19 minutes.
Mohamed Salah, captaining Egypt on his 34th birthday, was at the centre of the move. Receiving possession on the right, he drifted inside and found Ashour in space outside the penalty area. The midfielder drove forward before sending a low shot through a crowded box and beyond Thibaut Courtois to put Egypt ahead.
Emam Ashour starts the story✨⚽#egyptnt#FIFAWORLDCUP pic.twitter.com/38bq0901Qd
— Egypt National Team (@EgyptNT_EN) June 15, 2026
Egypt were positive on the ball and continued to press aggressively. Belgium struggled to cope and Jeremy Doku, their inspirational player, frequently found himself double-marked whenever he received the ball.
Kevin De Bruyne attempted to inspire a response, firing a freekick against the post, but Belgium’s attacks often ended with speculative efforts from distance. Doku fired over from a promising position before Egypt almost doubled their lead shortly before the interval when a series of corners caused confusion inside the Belgian area.
Belgium enjoyed more possession after the break but remained frustrated by Egypt’s disciplined defensive structure. The Pharaohs continued to threaten on the counterattack and created opportunities to extend their lead, but the final touch to put the game beyond reach was missing.
Rudi Garcia turned to his bench in the 66th minute and found the spark his side had been missing. Lukaku, making only his second appearance in an injury-disrupted year, needed less than half a minute to influence the match.
Thomas Meunier burst down the right and delivered a dangerous low cross into the six-yard box. Lukaku surged between two defenders as he attempted to meet the delivery, but before the striker could apply the finishing touch, Egypt defender Hany inadvertently turned the ball into his own net.
Momentum shifted towards Belgium. Lukaku’s physical presence unsettled Egypt’s defence and more spaces began to open up between the lines as Belgium searched for a winner. Both teams had opportunities during a tense closing period but there was no decisive breakthrough to be found for either side.
