Belgium vs Egypt
Egypt stuns Belgium with resilient draw
A 1-1 stalemate sees Egypt hold firm against the favoured hosts.
Egypt took an early lead through Emam Ashour's strike in the 19th minute, only for Belgium to level the score via an own goal by Mohamed Hany after the break. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, defying Fipster's confident prediction of a Belgian win. A surprising result that leaves both teams sharing the spoils.
Analysis
The FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off with Belgium facing Egypt in what promises to be a closely contested group stage match. Both teams have shown strong qualifying form, but Belgium's squad boasts a significant calibre advantage that could prove decisive.
Belgium enters this match with 14 prior World Cup appearances and their best finish being third place in 2018. Egypt, with 3 prior appearances, has yet to progress beyond the group stage. Neither team is hosting the tournament, which is held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Belgium's squad features 20 of 26 players competing in top-five European leagues, including key figures like Kevin De Bruyne of Napoli and Thorgan Hazard of Lille. Egypt's squad, while spirited, has only 4 players in top-tier leagues, with Mohamed Salah of Liverpool as their standout. Belgium's midfield creativity and attacking options give them a clear edge, while Egypt will rely heavily on Salah's form to challenge their opponents.
Prediction
Expect Belgium to take an early lead, reflected in the predicted 1-0 halftime score. Egypt will fight back, but Belgium's quality should secure a 2-1 victory. The match is likely to see around four cards, typical for a group stage encounter. Confidence in this outcome stands at 85%.
Outcome probability
Key Insights
Belgium's midfield creativity vs Egypt's defense
De Bruyne's playmaking and Belgium's midfield depth likely to exploit Egypt's defensive gaps.
Belgium's superior attacking options
Belgium's attackers have higher goal involvement rates and better league competition experience.
Egypt relies heavily on Salah's form
Salah's recent performances will be critical for Egypt's goal threat in this match.
No injuries reported for either team
Both teams have full squads available, ensuring strongest lineups possible.
Key Takeaways
This opening fixture sets the tone for Belgium's campaign, showcasing their strong squad depth and tactical prowess. Egypt will need to leverage their key players and resilience to upset the odds, but Belgium's superior calibre makes them favourites to start with a win.
- Belgium has 14 prior World Cup appearances with a best finish of third place in 2018.
- Egypt has 3 prior World Cup appearances and has never progressed beyond the group stage.
- The 2026 World Cup is hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico; neither Belgium nor Egypt is a host nation.
- Belgium's squad includes 20 players from top-five European leagues, including Kevin De Bruyne (Napoli).
- Egypt's squad has 4 players from top-five European leagues, including Mohamed Salah (Liverpool).
- Belgium topped their qualifying group with 18 points and a +22 goal difference.
- Egypt also topped their qualifying group with 26 points and an +18 goal difference.
- Recent form favours Belgium with 2.33 points per game over the last 12 months, compared to Egypt's 2.5 but with a lower calibre squad.
Player Insights
Standout players Fipster expects to impact the match — curated highlights, not full squad lists
Home — Belgium
Away — Egypt
Form as the teams went into this match — excludes this result and anything since.
Team Comparison
Season shape — attack, defence, form, clean sheets & win rate
Season comparison
Goals scored & conceded, goal difference and clean sheets across the season
Halftime Performance
What each side does once the whistle goes for half time
Streaks
Recent-form runs — each side’s most-recent game meets in the middle
Head to Head
FIFA world ranking
Marwan Attia
Yellow Card
Castagne
Yellow Card
Emam Ashour
Assist: Salah
Ahmed Abou El Fotouh
Yellow Card
Onana
Castagne
De Ketelaere
Mohamed Hany (OG)
Emam Ashour
De Cuyper
Yellow Card
Mostafa Zico
Salah
Doku
De Bruyne
Hamdi Fathy
Ahmed Abou El Fotouh
Match Statistics
Belgium
4-2-3-1Starting XI
- 1T. CourtoisG
- 4B. MecheleD
- 7K. De BruyneM
- 8Y. TielemansM
- 10L. TrossardM
- 11J. DokuM
- 15T. MeunierD
- 17C. De KetelaereF
- 21T. CastagneD
- 24A. OnanaM
- 25N. NgoyD
Substitutes
- 3A. TheateD
- 5M. De CuyperD
- 6A. WitselM
- 9R. LukakuF
- 12S. LammensG
- 13M. PendersG
- 14D. LukebakioF
- 16K. De WinterD
- 18J. SeysD
- 19Diego MoreiraF
- 20H. VanakenM
- 22A. SaelemaekersF
- 23N. RaskinM
- 26M. Fernandez-PardoF
Egypt
4-2-3-1Starting XI
- 2Yasser IbrahimD
- 3Mohamed HanyD
- 8Emam AshourM
- 10Mohamed SalahM
- 11Mostafa ZicoM
- 13Ahmed Abou El FotouhD
- 14Hamdi FathyD
- 17Mohanad LasheenM
- 19Marwan AttiaM
- 22Omar MarmoushF
- 23Mostafa ShobeirG
Substitutes
- 1Mohamed El ShenawyG
- 4Hossam AbdelmaguidD
- 5Rami RabiaD
- 6Mohamed AbdelmonemD
- 7TrézéguetF
- 9H. AbdelkarimF
- 12H. HassanF
- 15Karim HafezD
- 16Al Mahdi SolimanG
- 18Nabil Emad DungaM
- 20Ibrahim AdelF
- 21Mahmoud SaberM
- 24T. AlaaD
- 25ZizoF
- 26Mohamed AlaaG
Belgium
| Player | Pos | Min | Rating | G | A | Shots | SoT | Key Passes | Dribbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timothy Castagne | D | 56 | 7.9 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| Youri Tielemans(C) | M | 92 | 7.7 | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | 1/1 |
| Brandon Mechele | D | 92 | 7.3 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Charles De Ketelaere | F | 66 | 7.2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1/2 |
| Nathan Ngoy | D | 92 | 7.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Leandro Trossard | M | 92 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2/4 |
| Amadou Onana | M | 56 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Kevin De Bruyne | M | 86 | 6.3 | — | — | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1/3 |
| Thomas Meunier | D | 92 | 6.3 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| Jérémy Doku | M | 86 | 6.3 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 1/7 |
| Thibaut Courtois | G | 92 | 6.2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Substitutes | |||||||||
| Mike Penders | G | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Joaquin Seys | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Hans Vanaken | M | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Alexis Saelemaekers | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Axel Witsel | M | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Dodi Lukebakio | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Koni De Winter | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Senne Lammens | G | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Arthur Theate | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Diego Moreira | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Matías Fernández-Pardo | F | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Nicolas Raskin | M | 36 | 7.3 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| Maxim De Cuyper | D | 36 | 6.3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Romelu Lukaku | F | 26 | 6.2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 0/1 |
Egypt
| Player | Pos | Min | Rating | G | A | Shots | SoT | Key Passes | Dribbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emam Ashour | M | 71 | 7.9 | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1/1 |
| Mohanad Lasheen | M | 92 | 7.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 1/1 |
| Omar Marmoush | F | 92 | 7.0 | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 3/4 |
| Ahmed Fatouh | D | 89 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| Hamdy Fathy | D | 89 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — |
| Mostafa Shobeir | G | 92 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Yasser Ibrahim | D | 92 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Mohamed Salah(C) | M | 76 | 6.3 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0/3 |
| Mohamed Hany | D | 92 | 6.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 2/2 |
| Marwan Attia | M | 92 | 6.2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| Mostafa Ziko | M | 76 | 6.2 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0/1 |
| Substitutes | |||||||||
| Mohamed Alaa | G | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Hossam Abdelmaguid | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Mohamed Abdelmonem | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Ibrahim Adel | F | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0/1 |
| Mahmoud Saber | M | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Haissem Hassan | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Tarek Alaa | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Mahdi Soliman | G | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Mohamed El-Shenawy | G | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Mahmoud Trézéguet | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Nabil Donga | M | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Karim Hafez | D | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Hamza Abdelkarim | F | 16 | 6.6 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Rami Rabia | D | 21 | 6.6 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Zizo | F | 16 | 6.5 | — | — | — | — | — | — |