Belgium held by Egypt in World Cup 2026 opener after Lukaku's impact

Belgium began their World Cup 2026 campaign with a disappointing 1-1 draw against Egypt in Seattle. The Red Devils, who arrived with a 13-match unbeaten streak, struggled to impose themselves against the Pharaohs. Egypt took the lead in the 20th minute through Emam Ashour's powerful strike, capitalizing on defensive lapses from Belgium.

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The Red Devils were held by Egypt, this Monday (1-1), after a match they dominated, without necessarily shining.

Despite controlling possession, Belgium's technical precision and defensive organization were lacking. Jérémy Doku, a key winger, was effectively contained by the Egyptian defense. Kevin De Bruyne had an early chance, but it was Ashour's goal, assisted by Mohamed Salah, that put Egypt ahead. Thibaut Courtois made a crucial save to deny Mostafa Ziko a second goal before halftime.

Substitute Romelu Lukaku's introduction in the second half immediately changed the dynamic. Within seconds of coming on, he pressured Egyptian defender Mohamed Hany into scoring an own goal in the 66th minute, leveling the score. The second half saw a more open game with chances at both ends, including a De Bruyne shot that hit the post.

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Emam Ashour had opened the scoring for the Pharaohs in the first half (19th), before Romelu Lukaku forced an own goal from Mohamed Hany (66th).

While the draw extends Belgium's unbeaten run to 14 games and keeps them in contention for qualification in a group also featuring Iran and New Zealand, the performance raised concerns. The team needs to improve its offensive creativity and defensive solidity to advance in the tournament, especially after disappointing exits in the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024.

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They will need to be less messy and have more ideas with the ball as they approach potential round of 16 matches to avoid another crash.