Belgium rescues draw in World Cup debut against Egypt

Belgium narrowly avoided defeat in their 2026 World Cup opener, securing a 1-1 draw against Egypt on Monday. The match, played in Seattle, saw Egypt threaten an upset, largely driven by the performance of their star player Mohamed Salah, who celebrated his 34th birthday.

Egypt seized the lead in the 20th minute when Emam Ashour scored, following an assist from Salah. This goal marked a significant moment, especially after another surprise result earlier in the day where Spain drew with Cape Verde. However, Belgium, heavily favored in Group G, managed to find an equalizer in the 66th minute thanks to an own goal by Mohamed Hany, which was capitalized on by substitute Romelu Lukaku.

Salah, recently departed from Liverpool, proved influential throughout the game, facing off against Belgian stars like Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku. For the Belgian team, managed by French coach Rudi Garcia, this draw serves as a stark warning as they aim to advance to the knockout stages in what appears to be a favorable group.

This result places Belgium under pressure early in the tournament. Other strong contenders have also had mixed starts, with Brazil and the Netherlands also drawing their opening matches. Germany was the only team among the title hopefuls to deliver a commanding performance, thrashing Curaçao 7-1. Belgium's next match is against Iran on Sunday, while Egypt will face New Zealand.