New Zealand vs Egypt
Egypt rallies past New Zealand in World Cup clash
A spirited comeback sees Egypt overturn an early deficit to claim a 3-1 victory.
New Zealand took an early lead through F. Surman at 15 minutes, but Egypt responded strongly after the break. Mostafa Zico levelled the scores at 58 minutes before Mohamed Salah and Trézéguet secured the win with goals at 67 and 82 minutes respectively. This result defied Fipster's prediction of a 1-1 draw, delivering a convincing win for Egypt instead.
Analysis
New Zealand and Egypt face off in their second group stage match of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Both teams are looking to secure valuable points to boost their chances of advancing, with Egypt holding a slight edge in squad quality and recent form.
New Zealand enters this match with two prior World Cup appearances, having reached the group stage in 1982 and 2010. Egypt has appeared three times before, also reaching the group stage. Neither team is hosting the tournament. Egypt qualified directly, topping their group with 26 points and a strong goal difference, while New Zealand's qualifying details are less clear. Egypt boasts a moderate calibre advantage with four players in top-5 European leagues, including Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, compared to New Zealand's two, including Chris Wood.
Egypt's squad quality and recent form give them a moderate advantage, but New Zealand's resilience and key players like Elijah Just, who has scored twice in their opening match, keep the contest balanced. Egypt's midfield strength, particularly in defensive tackling, will be crucial to contain New Zealand's attacking threats. Both teams have full squads available, so tactical execution should be at its best.
Prediction
The match is predicted to end in a 1-1 draw, reflecting Egypt's moderate edge balanced by New Zealand's fighting spirit. The halftime score is not specified, but the full-time result suggests a competitive game with goals from both sides. A total of four cards is expected, indicating a fairly physical encounter.
Outcome probability
Key Insights
Elijah Just's scoring form vs Egypt's defense
Just's 2 goals in 1 away game highlight a key attacking edge against Egypt's defense, likely to be targeted.
Chris Wood's assist connection with Just
Wood's 2 assists directly assisted Just's goals, indicating a strong attacking partnership to exploit.
Egypt's defensive midfield strength
Lasheen's exceptional tackling and duel success provide Egypt a defensive edge in midfield battles.
No injuries reported for key players
Both teams have full squads available, ensuring tactical plans can be executed without forced changes.
Key Takeaways
This encounter promises a balanced contest with both teams eager to claim points. Egypt's higher calibre players and better recent form suggest they will push hard, but New Zealand's determination and key performers like Elijah Just will ensure they share the spoils in this World Cup 2026 group stage fixture.
- New Zealand has 2 prior World Cup appearances, best finish: group stage (1982, 2010).
- Egypt has 3 prior World Cup appearances, best finish: group stage.
- Egypt qualified directly, topping their qualifying group with 26 points and +18 goal difference.
- Egypt has 4 players in top-5 European leagues, including Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush.
- New Zealand has 2 players in top-5 European leagues, including Chris Wood.
- Egypt's recent form yields 2.2 points per game, New Zealand's 1.0.
- Neither team is hosting the 2026 World Cup.
Player Insights
Standout players Fipster expects to impact the match — curated highlights, not full squad lists
Home — New Zealand
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
Home vs Away comparison
Goal difference in each of the last few fixtures — above the line is a net win, below is a net loss
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
Surman
Assist: Payne
Mohanad Lasheen
Yellow Card
Singh
Yellow Card
McCowatt
Yellow Card
Hamdi Fathy
Mostafa Zico
Assist: Mohamed Hany
McCowatt
Salah
Assist: Mostafa Zico
Mostafa Zico
Cacace
Omar Marmoush
Singh
Trézéguet
Assist: Salah
Salah
Emam Ashour
Just
Payne
Hossam Abdelmaguid
Match Statistics
New Zealand
4-2-3-1Starting XI
- 1M. CrocombeG
- 2T. PayneD
- 5M. BoxallD
- 6J. BellM
- 8M. StamenićM
- 9C. WoodF
- 10S. SinghM
- 11E. JustM
- 13L. CacaceD
- 16F. SurmanD
- 20C. McCowattM
Substitutes
- 3F. de VriesD
- 4Tyler BindonD
- 7L. RogersonF
- 12A. PaulsenG
- 14A. RuferM
- 15N. PijnakerD
- 17K. BarbarousesF
- 18B. WaineF
- 19B. OldF
- 21J. RandallF
- 22M. WoudG
- 23R. ThomasM
- 24C. ElliotD
- 25L. BaylissM
- 26T. SmithD
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
New Zealand
| Player | Pos | Min | Rating | G | A | Shots | SoT | Key Passes | Dribbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elijah Just | M | 85 | 7.3 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1/3 |
| Finn Surman | D | 99 | 7.3 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Marko Stamenić | M | 99 | 7.2 | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 0/2 |
| Max Crocombe | G | 99 | 7.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Liberato Cacace | D | 76 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2/3 |
| Joe Bell | M | 99 | 6.6 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1/1 |
| Chris Wood(C) | F | 99 | 6.3 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — |
| Tim Payne | D | 85 | 6.3 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — |
| Callum McCowatt | M | 66 | 6.2 | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — |
| Michael Boxall | D | 99 | 6.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 0/1 |
| Sarpreet Singh | M | 76 | 5.9 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 0/1 |
| Substitutes | |||||||||
| Lachlan Bayliss | M | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Alex Paulsen | G | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Nando Pijnaker | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Tommy Smith | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Michael Woud | G | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Logan Rogerson | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Ben Waine | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Alex Rufer | M | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Callan Elliot | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Kosta Barbarouses | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Ryan Thomas | M | 23 | 6.7 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Tyler Bindon | D | 14 | 6.3 | — | — | — | — | — | 1/1 |
| Jesse Randall | F | 23 | 6.3 | — | — | — | — | — | 1/1 |
| Benjamin Old | F | 33 | 6.3 | — | — | — | — | — | 0/1 |
| Francis De Vries | D | 14 | 6.2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Egypt
| Player | Pos | Min | Rating | G | A | Shots | SoT | Key Passes | Dribbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohamed Salah(C) | M | 85 | 8.7 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2/3 |
| Mostafa Ziko | M | 76 | 8.0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | — |
| Mostafa Shobeir | G | 99 | 7.9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Omar Marmoush | F | 76 | 7.7 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2/3 |
| Marwan Attia | M | 99 | 7.2 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — |
| Mohanad Lasheen | M | 99 | 7.0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| Ahmed Fatouh | D | 99 | 7.0 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1/1 |
| Hamdy Fathy | D | 41 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Mohamed Hany | D | 99 | 6.6 | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | 0/1 |
| Emam Ashour | M | 85 | 6.5 | — | — | 3 | — | 2 | 1/2 |
| Yasser Ibrahim | D | 99 | 6.2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Substitutes | |||||||||
| Mohamed Alaa | G | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Karim Hafez | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Nabil Donga | M | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Mohamed El-Shenawy | G | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Mahdi Soliman | G | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Haissem Hassan | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Mahmoud Saber | M | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Ibrahim Adel | F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Tarek Alaa | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Mohamed Abdelmonem | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Mahmoud Trézéguet | F | 23 | 7.5 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Rami Rabia | D | 58 | 7.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Hossam Abdelmaguid | D | 14 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Zizo | F | 14 | 6.6 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1/1 |
| Hamza Abdelkarim | F | 23 | 6.5 | — | — | — | — | — | — |