Belgium needed a spark, and Romelu Lukaku delivered it again — even without touching the ball for the equaliser — as they rescued a 1-1 draw against Egypt in their World Cup Group G opener in Seattle.

Egypt had taken the lead in the 21st minute through Emam Ashour, who struck a superb 20-yard shot into the bottom corner past Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

The African side stayed strong for much of the match, with Mohamed Salah and Ashour both going close to extending their lead. But everything changed when Lukaku was introduced in the 66th minute.

Just moments after coming on, Lukaku’s presence made the difference.

Belgium sent in a low cross from Thomas Meunier, and under pressure from Lukaku’s movement inside the box, Egypt defender Mohamed Hany turned the ball into his own net.

It was not a goal credited to Lukaku, but his impact was clear. His movement, strength, and positioning forced Egypt into a mistake at a key moment, shifting the momentum of the match.

Before that, Belgium had already started to grow into the game, with Kevin De Bruyne hitting the post from a free-kick. But Lukaku’s introduction gave them a sharper attacking edge and forced Egypt deeper.

Egypt, who are still chasing their first ever World Cup win after eight attempts, were left frustrated after doing much of the hard work early in the match.

Belgium coach Rudi Garcia will be pleased that his tactical change paid off quickly, with Lukaku once again showing why he remains such an important figure for the Red Devils.

In the end, it was Lukaku’s presence — not his finishing — that made the difference in a game Belgium might otherwise have lost.

The Iranian team played out a 2-2 draw with New Zealand in a politically charged Group G fixture at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Monday night. However, instead of remaining in California overnight to recover, the squad was reportedly told to return straight away to its training base in Tijuana, Mexico.

The latest development adds to a series of logistical and visa-related challenges that have overshadowed Iran’s build-up to the tournament.

Iran question sudden travel decision

Speaking after the match, Ghalenoei said the team had expected to follow a standard recovery schedule before travelling back to Mexico the following day.

Instead, the players were reportedly instructed to leave almost immediately after the final whistle.

“They didn’t even give us time to recover,” Ghalenoei said through an interpreter. “After the game today, they said to us, ‘You have to leave immediately.’ It’s very important for us to have time for recovery, (but) we are asked to get on a plane and return to our camp in Tijuana, and we are really troubled by that.”

The Iran coach did not specify who issued the instruction.

According to Ghalenoei, the original plan was for the team to arrive in Los Angeles two days before the match, stay overnight after the game and return to Tijuana the following afternoon.

“We don’t know why they are returning us, to be honest,” Ghalenoei said. “I think it’s very strange. It seems like others are doing the planning for us. The decision-making for us is being made elsewhere. We were supposed to come two nights before the game, and we were supposed to stay tonight to recover and return tomorrow at lunchtime. We have no idea why.

“I think our team is perhaps the most oppressed in the World Cup.”

Visa issues continue to disrupt preparations

The travel concerns come against the backdrop of wider difficulties faced by the Iranian delegation since the start of the tournament.

Iran’s preparations have been affected by tensions between the United States and Iran, with the team previously expressing concerns over visa delays and travel arrangements.

Captain Mehdi Taremi said several key members of the Iranian contingent remain absent after being denied visas, including senior football federation officials, coaching staff and media personnel.

“We have to leave Los Angeles right now, and it’s not good for us,” Taremi said about an hour after the match. “I think FIFA have to help us more than this. … Everything is like a disaster, actually, for us.”

The visa issue has emerged as a recurring theme during Iran’s World Cup campaign, with officials arguing that the absence of support staff has complicated preparations both on and off the field.

Draw against New Zealand offers little relief

Iran’s frustration was compounded by the result itself.

Team Melli twice came from behind to salvage a 2-2 draw against New Zealand in front of a largely pro-Iranian crowd in Los Angeles.

Eli Just scored both goals for New Zealand, while Ramin Rezaeian and Mohamed Mohebi found the net for Iran.

Mohebi’s superb second-half header secured a point for the Asian side after another difficult night in a tournament already dominated by off-field issues.

The draw leaves Group G finely balanced after Belgium and Egypt also shared the points in their opening fixture.

Iran will return to SoFi Stadium for their second group-stage match against Belgium on Sunday.

The race for the golden boot at World Cup 2026 is expected to be fierce, with Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Lamine Yamal all leading contenders to finish as the tournament’s top scorer.

France captain Mbappe and England skipper Kane are the previous two winners of the award, after all. Mbappe scored eight in 2022, including a hat-trick in the final, while Kane struck six for England in 2018.

The first ever 48-team World Cup features an additional round of 32, offering the world’s top strikers an additional opportunity of bagging an extra goal as they dream of embarking on a deep run into the tournament.

If players are tied for goals, the number of assists will determine who ranks higher. If there is still a tie, it comes down to minutes played and the goals-per-minute ratio. Here are the latest 2026 World Cup golden boot standings.

World Cup golden boot standings

=1. Folarin Balogun (USA), two goals

=1. Kai Havertz (Germany), two goals

=1. Yasin Ayari (Sweden), two goals

=1. Elijaj Just (New Zealand), two goals

Argentina get their World Cup defence underway against Algeria in Kansas City on Tuesday night.

Three and a half years after Lionel Messi guided Argentina to a glorious third World Cup triumph in Qatar, the South American side begin their 2026 tournament as the top-seeded favourites in Group J.

Argentina also boast the likes of Julian Alvarez, Alexis Mac Allister and Emiliano Martinez in their ranks. They topped South American qualifying with 12 wins from 18 games and also won the 2024 Copa America.

As for Algeria, their captain and star player remains Riyad Mahrez. The ex-Manchester City and Leicester winger is at Al-Ahli now but, at 35, is still going strong and has more than 100 caps to his name.

Here’s everything you need to know about this World Cup 2026 game:

When is Argentina v Algeria?

Argentina face Algeria at 2am BST on Wednesday 17 June (8pm CT, Tuesday 17 June) at the Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.

How can I watch it?

Viewers in the UK can watch the match free-to-air on ITV 1, ITV X, STV and STV Player with coverage starting at 1:15am BST. It can also be live streamed on ITVX.

Team news

Argentina left back Nicolas Tagliafico has been ruled out of this match after straining his calf in a warm-up game against Honduras, but Leandro Paredes and Nico Gonzalez are both close to full fitness after muscular problems.

Algeria’s Ramy Bensebaini, who can play left back or centre back, is out with an ankle injury. Otherwise, the underdogs have a full bill of health.

Predicted line-ups

Argentina XI: Emiliano Martinez; Molina, Otamendi, Lisandro Martinez, Medina; De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister, Almada; Messi, Alvarez

Algeria XI: Zidane; Belghali, Mandi, Chergui, Ait-Nouri; Bentaleb, Boudaoui; Mahrez, Maza, Amoura; Gouiri

Latest odds

Argentina – 2/5

Draw – 19/5

Algeria – 17/2

The NHL has officially opened its long-delayed investigation into former coach Mike Babcock’s brief stint with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023. This comes just a day after the conclusion of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final.

In his latest column for Sportsnet, insider Elliotte Friedman reported that the league will interview multiple parties as it examines the circumstances surrounding Babcock’s resignation before he coached a single regular-season game in Columbus.

The review is believed to have been prompted by the NHL Players’ Association to assess whether any further penalties are warranted and whether teams like the Edmonton Oilers can hire him without restriction.

A central challenge for investigators stems from resistance among some former Blue Jackets players and staff. Many have reportedly expressed frustration at revisiting events from three years ago, indicating they have no desire to relive the controversy and prefer to move on.

“One of the initial challenges here is that some Blue Jackets players and staff members from back then initially indicated they had no desire to re-live what happened three years ago and didn’t want to participate,” Friedman wrote. “So we will see how the investigation handles that, or if anyone moves past that reluctance.”

The probe revives scrutiny of Mike Babcock’s conduct in Columbus, including well-publicized allegations of invasions of privacy, such as requests to view personal photos on players’ phones.

Several Oilers players’ agents have voiced concern regarding the hiring of Mike Babcock

The Edmonton Oilers have emerged as the leading candidate to hire Mike Babcock as their next head coach. This comes after the team decided to fire Kris Knoblauch after a disappointing first-round playoff exit.

Initially, the Oilers targeted Bruce Cassidy, but his contract situation with the Vegas Golden Knights has prevented him from interviewing with other teams. The roadblock prompted Edmonton to shift focus to Babcock.

The former Blue Jackets coach reportedly met with Oilers ownership and front office personnel, and he was one of two finalists who also met face-to-face with a small group of players in Toronto.

However, according to Elliotte Friedman, several agents of Edmonton players who were not involved in those direct conversations have voiced concerns.

“Several agents of Edmonton players who were not involved in direct conversations with Babcock also voiced concerns, adding they didn’t like the idea of clients being traded there, either,” he wrote.

The Oilers are now waiting for the outcome of the NHL’s investigation before making a final decision. If the review does not go in Mike Babcock’s favor, the franchise is expected to rule him out as a candidate.

With the playoffs now over, Edmonton is also closely monitoring the Golden Knights’ decision regarding Bruce Cassidy. Currently, the Oilers appear locked in on two primary coaching targets, but it remains to be seen who will ultimately replace Knoblauch behind the bench.