New Zealand 3-1 Egypt: Surman 15; Ziko 58, Salah 67, Trezeguet 82
There were 11 minutes of stoppage time which seemed to serve no purpose other than delay celebrations for Egypt. It was 3-1 and surely over. When the final whistle finally blew, celebrations erupted around BC Place Stadium. Players embraced on the pitch and coach Hossam Hassan carried an Egyptian flag in front of jubilant supporters.
This was Egypt’s win at a World Cup and at the centre of it was star man Mohamed Salah, who ran the show and scored the second to complete a turnaround, after the North Africans had initially gone behind to a Finn Surman header for New Zealand in the opening quarter hour.
The handsome victory leaves Egypt on four points from two matches after their opening draw against Belgium. Qualification for the knockout rounds is now firmly within reach. Egypt are even topping Group G. A draw against Iran in their final match should be enough to secure a place in the last 16, while New Zealand will have to battle against Belgium after collecting just one point from their first two games.
For much of the opening half, Egypt struggled to impose themselves against a disciplined New Zealand side that executed a simple but effective game plan. The All Whites defended well, mixed direct passes with patient possession and went ahead when Finn Surman rose to head home from Tim Payne’s corner in the 15th minute.
New Zealand looked comfortable protecting their lead and even threatened a second goal, Callum McCowatt forcing a save from Mohamed El Shenawy with a glancing header. Egypt’s attacking stars found little room to operate, although Salah came closest before the break when a clever free-kick routine involving Omar Marmoush ended with the Liverpool forward firing narrowly into the side netting.
Pharaohs lead the group 🇪🇬🔝#egyptnt#FIFAWORLDCUP pic.twitter.com/wo7vm6tIDv
— Egypt National Team (@EgyptNT_EN) June 22, 2026
But the Pharaohs emerged with greater urgency in the second half and began to pin New Zealand deep inside their own half. Their pressure was finally rewarded in the 58th minute when Mohamed Hany delivered a cross from the right and Mostafa Ziko found space between the central defenders to guide a header beyond Max Crocombe for the equaliser.
Nine minutes later, Salah combined neatly with Ziko on the edge of the area and surged into space, before calmly placing his finish beneath the goalkeeper to complete the turnaround and send Egyptian supporters into raptures.
Salah nearly added another with a curling effort that deflected over the bar, but soon after he created Egypt’s third, delivering a corner that substitute Mahmoud Trezeguet darted across the near post and met with a diving header. It was almost a replica of New Zealand’s goal.
There were late injuries for Egypt as they defended their lead, but with a two-goal cushion they were never really in danger as those long minutes of stoppage time trickled down.
