Egypt draw 1-1 with Belgium in World Cup group stage | World Cup 2026

Emam Ashour’s first international goal put Egypt ahead before veteran Romelu Lukaku equalized.

Romelu Lukaku forced Egypt into a goal just seconds into the game, and favorites Belgium escaped with a 1-1 draw in their World Cup Group G opener at Seattle Stadium.

Lukaku’s equalizer came just 28 seconds into the game in the 66th minute and prevented Egypt from winning their first game in their fourth World Cup on Monday.

Midfielder Emam Ashour scored his first international goal with a superb shot from 20 yards to give Egypt a 1-0 lead.

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan opted to play Mohamed Salah in the middle of the legend’s 34th birthday, and the move went well from the start. After drawing the first yellow card in Belgium, Salah gave a medical pass to Ashour on the edge of defence.

Ashour used his first touch to create a shot with his right foot, which hit at 34km/h (21 mph), and was buried in the bottom left corner of the net past the right arm of Real Madrid midfielder Thibaut Courtois.

The 19th-minute strike, just before half-time, was Ashour’s first in his 30th appearance for Egypt.

Courtois later made a brilliant save, diving one-way from Mostafa Zico in the 33rd minute. Egypt conceded both goals in the first half, while Belgium failed to test Egyptian goalkeeper Mostafa Shoubir with each of eight attempts.

Belgium attacked repeatedly from the edge in the first half but were unable to threaten Shoubir.

This changed at the beginning of the second half, when the game opened up and Belgium put a lot of pressure in the box, while Egypt made several dangerous attacks. Salah almost missed a header in the 55th minute, but Courtois made another save.

Later Omar Marmoush shot from inside the box which was deflected wide of the goal.

Belgium decided to increase the intensity with Lukaku entering in the 66th minute. Twenty-three seconds later, the Napoli striker split two defenders on Thomas Meunier’s cross and forced his goal when the ball left Hany’s foot in front of Shoubir.

Salah’s day ended when Liverpool’s towering star was sent off in the 75th minute.