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Egypt Leads Belgium but Settles for 1-1 Draw in 2026 World Cup Opener
Egypt took the lead before settling for a draw against Belgium on Monday. The result lifted spirits in Cairo as fans expressed renewed hope for a first World Cup win.
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Egypt took a 1-0 lead against Belgium before the match ended 1-1 on Monday, June 15, 2026. The draw came in Egypt's opening Group G match of the 2026 World Cup. Egypt has never won a World Cup match across four appearances at the tournament.
The country first appeared in 1934 as the first African and Arab nation to reach the event, then returned in 1990 and 2018. Mohamed Salah turned 34 on the day of the match. Egypt's remaining Group G fixtures are against Iran and New Zealand.
Bahgat Abbas, 62, watched the match in Cairo's Heliopolis district. "I remember watching Egypt in 1990," he told AFP while waving an Egyptian flag as car horns blared. "Back then, just being at the World Cup felt special.
Tonight feels different. " Abbas added that the goal prompted new optimism. "When we scored, I thought maybe this was finally our night. Maybe next time. " Taha Omar said the performance marked a shift from Egypt's prior approach.
"It was the first time at a World Cup he had seen Egypt do more than 'just defend,'" Al-Monitor reported. " Mohamed El-Gendy told AFP that supporters intended to maintain their outlook. "We'll keep going until the end," he said.
Egypt has won the Africa Cup of Nations seven times.
