News Focus
- Belgium rescue a point in World Cup opener against Egypt in Seattle
- Emam Ashour puts Egypt ahead in the first half with a tidy finish
- Romelu Lukaku forces an own goal minutes after coming off the bench
- Mohamed Salah plays on his 34th birthday but cannot find the net
- Both teams remain in contention for the round of 32 in Group G
Romelu Lukaku made a huge impact after coming off the bench to help Belgium secure a 1-1 draw against Egypt in their World Cup 2026 opener. The match took place at Seattle Stadium in blistering heat, with temperatures reaching 30 degrees Celsius on the pitch.
A packed crowd of 66,775 supporters filled the arena despite the afternoon sun, creating a vibrant atmosphere for this Group G fixture. Both nations entered the contest hoping to make a strong start to their campaigns.
Egypt scored first after twenty minutes. Mohamed Salah, who was celebrating his 34th birthday, passed cleverly to Emam Ashour at the edge of the box. The midfielder controlled the ball well before shooting low past Thibaut Courtois into the corner. It was his first goal for Egypt in thirty matches.
Belgium struggled to create clear opportunities during the opening period. Egypt’s defence kept close tabs on Jérémy Doku, often using two markers to stop the winger. Leandro Trossard also found little joy on the opposite flank, losing possession three times before the interval.
The Red Devils improved after the restart. Kevin De Bruyne struck the woodwork with a curling free-kick in the 53rd minute, while Youri Tielemans went close with a volley. However, Egypt remained dangerous on the counter-attack, with Ashour nearly doubling his tally but shooting wide from a tight angle.
Manager Rudi Garcia introduced Lukaku in the 66th minute, and the striker changed the game immediately. Thomas Meunier surged down the right wing and delivered a low cross into the six-yard box. Lukaku slid in between two defenders, and although he failed to make direct contact, his presence forced Mohamed Hany to turn the ball into his own net.
Both sides had chances to win the match in the closing stages. Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir produced a fine save to deny Brandon Mechele’s header, while Courtois tipped an ambitious lob from Ahmed Fatouh over the crossbar. Salah departed the field in the 75th minute without scoring, and De Bruyne also left the pitch late on as both managers looked to protect their key players.
The result leaves both teams with a valuable point as they prepare to face Iran and New Zealand in their remaining group matches. Egypt will view this as a missed opportunity to defeat one of the group’s favourites, while Belgium will thank Lukaku for saving them from an opening defeat.