Belgium and Egypt Draw 1-1 in World Cup Opener
Belgium and Egypt played to a 1-1 draw in their World Cup opener on Monday in Seattle. Emam Ashour scored for Egypt in the first half, while a second-half equalizer, initiated by Romelu Lukaku, resulted in an own goal by Egypt's Mohamed Hany. The draw marked Egypt's fourth World Cup participation without a victory, extending their wait for a first win in the tournament. For Belgium, the match kicked off what is seen as a final opportunity for their 'golden generation' to secure major silverware.
Belgium and Egypt concluded their World Cup opener with a 1-1 draw on Monday in Seattle. The match saw Egypt take an early lead, which was later nullified by a Belgian equalizer, reportedly spoiling Mohamed Salah’s 34th birthday celebration.
Emam Ashour opened the scoring for Egypt early in the first half. This goal marked only the second time in Egypt's history that the team had taken the lead in a World Cup match.
The equalizer for Belgium came after the hour mark when Romelu Lukaku was introduced from the bench. His presence on a Thomas Meunier cross destabilized Egypt's defense, leading to an own goal by Mohamed Hany.
For seven-time Africa Cup of Nations champions Egypt, the draw means their quest for a first-ever World Cup victory continues. This tournament marks their fourth participation, with upcoming Group G fixtures against Iran and New Zealand.
Belgium, coached by Rudi Garcia, is featuring a squad that includes veterans like Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois, and Lukaku. This tournament is widely considered the last opportunity for this 'golden generation' to secure silverware and improve upon their third-placed finish in the Russia 2018 World Cup.
Key moments in the match included Kevin De Bruyne's early shot narrowly missing and a free-kick hitting the post in the second half. Mohamed Salah also had a header saved by Courtois before departing the field with 15 minutes remaining.
According to Dawn Pakistan, the match was published on June 16th, 2026.
