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Belgium – Egypt live: Ashour belter puts Pharaohs ahead in Group G showdown
Mohamed Salah’s Egypt led Group G favourites Belgium at half-time after a fierce drive by Eman Ashour put the Pharaohs ahead at the Seattle Stadium on Monday, with the seven-time African champions still chasing their first victory on football’s biggest stage. Follow our live commentary.
Starting XIs of Belgium – Egypt
Belgium: Courtois – De Cuyper, Mechele, Ngoy, Meunier, Castagne – Onana, Tielemans – De Bruyne, Doku, Trossard, De Ketelaere
Egypt: Shobeir – Fattouh, Fathy, Ibrahim, Hany – Attia, Lasheen, Ashour – Ziko, Salah, Marmoush
The Pharaohs’ fans will have enjoyed the first-half display at the Seattle Stadium. Photo: Albert Gea, Reuters
Half-time!
Some chaotic Belgian defending and a missed punch by Courtois twice gives Egypt the chance to score a second, but the Red Devils evenutally clear and that’s it for the first half.
Egypt are deservedly ahead and just 45 minutes away from their first ever World Cup win. Belgium, with zero shots on target, have some work to do.
Doku’s shot flies over the crossbar!
Belgium have their best chance yet, the ball falling to Doku after ricocheting inside the Egypt box.
The Belgian forward is slightly off balance and his shot flies over the bar.
Chance for Trossard
A rare gap in the Egypt defence frees Doku on the right. He cuts back to Trossard whose effort misses the target.
Fatouh is booked
Doku breaks on the right flank and his taken down by Egypt’s Fatouh, who is promptly booked.
Courtois saves!
Zico takes a shot from a tight angle but Courtois fends it off with a fine save. Egypt are brimming with energy.
Shobeir denies De Bruyne
Ashour, who’s all over the pitch, is fouled in defence. But De Bruyne takes a shot anyway, which Shobeir palms away with a flying save.
Match resumes after drinks break
We’re off again after a short hydration break; a chance for Belgium to regroup after falling behind.
A great day for Ashour to score his first international goal. Photo: Lee Smith, Reuters
Egypt take the lead (1-0)! What a goal!
Emam Ashour has given Egypt the lead with a stunning strike from outside the penalty box!
A great ball from Mo Salah and an even better strike by Ashour, who fires a low shot into the left corner past a hapless Courtois.
Castagne booked
The Belgian defender is shown a yellow card for bringing down birthday boy Salah.
Mo Salah turns 34 today. Photo: Agustin Marcarian, Reuters
Yellow card
Attia brings down Ngoy and is booked for halting a potential Belgium counter-attack.
VAR cancels Belgium corner
De Ketelaere wins the first corner of the match for Belgium… only for VAR to rule it a goal kick for Egypt.
Chance for De Bruyne!
A clever pass finds Kevin De Bruyne with space outside the Egypt box. He blasts a shot just wide of Shobeir’s right post.
Egypt won’t want to let him have another go.
Egypt start well
Bright start from the Pharaohs, who may have been piqued by talk of their passive, defensive style of play.
Salah, who turns 34 today, is looking lively at N.10.
Off we go!
Belgium, in their traditional red shirts and black shorts, get the ball rolling. Egypt are in white.
Lukaku on bench
Romelu Lukaku is starting on the bench for Belgium.
That’s no surprise after his injury-plagued season for Italian side Napoli.
Egypt make their World Cup debut on Monday, hoping to clinch a maiden win and qualify for the knockout stages for the first time in four participations. But standing in their way are Group G favourites Belgium, who rank among the tournament’s outsiders.
Read moreWorld Cup 2026: All the fixtures
The Red Devils feature remnants of the “golden generation” that reached third place in 2018, including Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Thibaut Courtois, though coach Rudi Garcia has overseen a gradual transition towards a younger core led by Jeremy Doku, Amadou Onana and Charles De Ketelaere.
They are expected to dominate possession, while Egypt defend deep and look to their two best players – forward Mohamed Salah and striker Omar Marmoush – to create scoring opportunities with fast breaks. The Pharaohs will take encouragement from the last meeting between the sides, when they claimed a 2-1 victory in a friendly in Kuwait in November 2022.
Read moreWorld Cup 2026: Group standings
Monday’s match features the two strongest teams in Group G, which also includes Iran and New Zealand, meaning the game is not necessarily a must-win for either side.
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