Egypt begin their World Cup journey on Monday with a highly-anticipated clash against Belgium, who consider the Pharaohs to be their toughest opposition in a balanced Group G.
Hossam Hassan’s men have been preparing for their opening game at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, before they travelled 450km west on Saturday (40-minute flight) to take on the Belgians at Lumen Field in Seattle.
All eyes on Salah and Marmoush
The two teams are joined by Iran and New Zealand in the group , but Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said on Thursday that he has his eyes firmly fixed on Egypt, who pose a serious threat via dynamic duo Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush.
“It’s definitely a big thing to start well especially against Egypt that are, I think, the strongest team that we face, so it’s important to win,” said the Real Madrid shot stopper.
Courtois and Salah were teammates for about a year at Chelsea back in 2014 and were opponents when Real Madrid downed Liverpool in the Champions League final in Paris in 2022.
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Mohamed Salah leads Egypt on return to World Cup
“Mo is a good friend. We played together and often against each other. He’s a great player, important to Egypt, together with Marmoush. Hopefully it’s the same as the final in Paris. Then I’ll be happy,” said Courtois with a grin.
“He’s a top player, so we have to watch out for the transition game, especially with the two of them. I think we’ll put up a tough block against them. They’ll try to hurt us with counter-attacking. That’s where their quality is. We need to be alert.”
Marmoush earned his 50th cap during Egypt’s 2-1 defeat to Brazil last week but unlike Salah, who led the Pharaohs in Russia 2018, the Man City forward will be making his World Cup debut on Monday.
“We’re not just going to play in the World Cup - we're going to compete for a championship. Of course, we must be realistic; we're playing against some of the best teams in the world, and the level of the nations we'll be facing is very high. But we're not going thinking we will just play three matches and leave. God willing, we will succeed,” Marmoush told his club’s digital magazine.
“Our ambitions are high and the confidence among the players is very high that hopefully we can do something and raise Egypt's name. We want to show ourselves in a good way, and we can dream of winning the tournament too, or of reaching a certain stage. We're not going just to make a name for ourselves – it is not a case of, ‘We went to the World Cup’ and that's it.
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“With the players we have, with the team we have, with the quality we have, and as the Egyptian national team, we are the best team in Africa. We go to the World Cup to pass the group stage, to show the world who we are, not just to be present.”
Salah turns 34 on Monday and will be hoping to make it a double celebration with success against Belgium. The former Liverpool winger top-scored for Egypt with nine goals during their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign and netted twice at Russia 2018.
Salah didn’t start against Brazil last week but will no doubt lead the team from the beginning against Belgium.
The quest for an elusive win
With a record of two draws and five losses, Egypt have not claimed a single victory in any of their three previous World Cup appearances but there is great optimism, not just among the players and coaching staff, but among those watching at home, that that can change this month in North America.
Ahmed El Shenawy, goalkeeper of Pyramids FC and formerly of the Egyptian national team, believes the Pharaohs should capitalise on this new expanded World Cup format and advance to the knockouts for the very first time.
“Inshallah the national team goes far,” he told On Sport on Thursday. “All the players are big players and big names and hopefully our [Europe-based] players will carry us. I hope we can do something different this World Cup.
Best of World Cup 2026 - in pictures
"We have a big chance because the World Cup has a different format and there are more teams, so you have a real chance of making the knockouts. God willing, they can go as far as possible. I don’t want to exaggerate but just pass the group stage and things can go well for us.”
Morocco’s run to the semi-finals at Qatar 2022 has provided hope and inspiration for all Arab teams and El Shenawy feels Egypt can pull off a similar surprise.
“If we advance, things can flow for us and the players can focus even more and think ‘Why not? We are doing something big so let’s keep going’. So they could potentially push themselves to continue and who knows, things can happen for us like it did for Morocco,” he added.
Egypt in high spirits
All reports from Egypt’s camp indicate the spirits are high and the squad is ready to begin their campaign.
Promising performances in friendlies against Saudi Arabia, Spain, Russia, and Brazil have instilled confidence within the players, who were reminded by Hassan during their final practice in Spokane on Saturda…
Read the full article at The National →📄Source document: Belgium's Romelu Lukaku and teammates during 2026 FIFA World Cup training at the Seattle Sounders FC Performance Centre and Clubhouse, Renton, U.S., June 16, 20
19 reports
Daily SabahParty-alignedCenter2 days agoIran and Belgium are set to face off in a crucial Group G match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with both teams currently tied on one point after their opening matches. The game, scheduled for June 21 at Los Angeles Stadium, holds significant implications for qualification chances. All four teams in the group—Egypt, New Zealand, Belgium, and Iran—are level on points, making every result highly impactful. Belgium drew 1-1 with Egypt, while Iran secured a 2-2 draw against New Zealand.
Bias read (Center): The article provides a neutral summary of the current standings and upcoming match in the World Cup without taking a stance or using biased language. It focuses on the sports event and does not involve political commentary or framing.
Official sources cited
- press release Belgium's Romelu Lukaku and teammates during 2026 FIFA World Cup training at the Seattle Sounders FC Performance Centre and Clubhouse, Renton, U.S., June 16, 20
Diário de NotíciasIndependentCenter5 days agoThe Belgium national football team drew 1-1 with Egypt in the opening match of Group G at the World Cup in Seattle. Egypt took the lead in the 20th minute through Emam Ashour, but Belgium equalized in the second half when Mohamed Hany accidentally scored an own goal while trying to prevent the ball from reaching Romelu Lukaku. Both teams are provisionally leading Group G with one point each after the first round of matches.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a sports event without any political commentary, framing, or bias. It provides factual details about the match outcome, scoring, and the current standings in the group stage. There is no indication of ideological slant in the language used or the selection of information.
Channel NewsAsia (CNA)Party-alignedCenter5 days agoBelgium drew 1-1 with Egypt in their World Cup opener. Egypt scored first through Emam Ashour, but Belgium equalized shortly after the substitution of Romelu Lukaku, whose cross was accidentally turned into an own goal by Mohamed Hany. Both teams had chances to win in the closing stages, but neither managed to secure a victory.
Bias read (Center): The article provides a neutral account of the match without taking a stance on any political or ideological issues. It focuses solely on the sporting event and does not include any biased language, framing, or emphasis that would indicate a particular leaning.
SKAIIndependentCenter5 days agoEgypt and Belgium drew 1-1 in their opening match of Group G at the World Cup. Egypt took an early lead with a goal from Assir in the 19th minute, but Belgium equalized through a defensive own goal by Hanee shortly after. Egypt played disciplined and mature football, effectively limiting Belgium's influence and creating dangerous chances through Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush.
Bias read (Center): The article provides a balanced account of the match without taking a political stance. It focuses on the sporting performance and events during the game, using neutral language and avoiding any ideological framing.
Daily SabahParty-alignedCenter5 days ago Belgium salvages draw against Egypt after Lukaku's introductionBelgium scored an equalizer through an Egyptian own goal shortly after substitute Romelu Lukaku entered the match, resulting in a 1-1 draw against Egypt in a World Cup game. Egypt's Emam Ashour had previously scored the opening goal. Belgium struggled in the tournament, failing to advance beyond the group stage in the previous World Cup and losing their last three matches.
Bias read (Center): The article provides a straightforward account of the match without apparent ideological framing. It reports on the events neutrally, focusing on the sequence of goals and player performances without taking a stance on political or social issues.
Tagesschau (ARD)State / PublicCenter5 days agoBelgium drew 1:1 with Egypt in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup. Egypt took an early lead through Emam Ashour, but Belgium equalized in the second half when Romelu Lukaku forced a goal from Egyptian defender Mohamed Hany. Belgium coach Rudi Garcia expressed relief at securing a point, acknowledging Egypt's strength as the best African team.
Bias read (Center): The article provides a balanced account of the match without evident ideological framing. It reports on the game's events, player performances, and coach comments objectively, without apparent bias toward either team or national narratives.
The NationalState / PublicCenter5 days agoEgypt, led by Mohamed Salah, drew with Belgium in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup. Emam Ashour scored for Egypt in the first half, but Belgium equalized shortly after Romelu Lukaku came on as a substitute. Egypt has won the African Cup of Nations seven times but has never previously won a World Cup match.
Bias read (Center): The article provides a neutral account of the football match between Egypt and Belgium, focusing on the game events without taking a political stance or showing bias toward either team. It highlights key moments and player performances without editorializing or favoring one nation over the other.
Al Jazeera EnglishState / PublicCenter5 days agoIn a World Cup group stage match, Egypt took the lead through Emam Ashour's first international goal. However, Belgium equalized shortly after Romelu Lukaku forced an own goal. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Bias read (Center): The article provides a straightforward account of the match without apparent bias. It reports on the scoring events, player performances, and tactical decisions without favoring either team or using emotionally charged language.
ABC (España)IndependentCenter5 days agoEgypt surprised Belgium with an early goal scored by Mohamed Salah, leading to a draw in their World Cup debut. Egypt's team, under coach Hossam Hassan, took an aggressive approach from the start, challenging Belgium's dominance. Despite Belgium's control of possession, they struggled to create clear scoring opportunities.
Bias read (Center): The article is purely sports-focused, discussing a football match between Egypt and Belgium without any political commentary or bias. The summary remains neutral, focusing solely on the game events and performance of both teams.
Žurnal24IndependentCenter5 days agoThe first group H match between Belgium and Egypt at the World Cup ended in a 1:1 draw. Egypt scored first in the 20th minute with a goal by Emam Ašur. Belgium equalized shortly after the break when Romelu Lukaku was involved in the goal, though it was Mohamed Hani who accidentally scored into his own team's net. Belgium had more possession and shots on target but failed to capitalize further.
Bias read (Center): The article provides a straightforward account of a sports match without any overtly biased language, framing, or emphasis on political issues. It focuses solely on the game events, player actions, and match outcomes.
France 24 (English)State / PublicCenter5 days agoBelgium and Egypt drew 1-1 in their World Cup opener. Emam Ashour scored first for Egypt, but Belgium equalized through an own goal by Mohamed Hany after Romelu Lukaku substituted. The result keeps both teams tied at the top of Group G. This marks Egypt's continued search for their first World Cup victory, while Belgium aims to improve upon their third-place finish from 2018.
Bias read (Center): The article provides a straightforward account of the match without apparent ideological framing. It reports facts about the game outcome, player performances, and team standings without showing preference for either nation or political stance.
El MundoIndependent🔒Center5 days agoBelgium and Egypt drew 1-1 in their opening match of Group G at the World Cup. Belgium's goal was scored by Romelu Lukaku, who helped secure a point for his team. The match featured limited quality play, with both teams creating isolated chances. Egypt had more clear opportunities but failed to convert them. Belgium, led by coach Rudi Garcia, looked less energetic compared to Egypt.
Bias read (Center): The article provides a neutral summary of the football match between Belgium and Egypt without showing any ideological or political bias. It focuses on the game events, player performances, and historical context without favoring either side politically.
Official sources cited
- organisation AP Photo/Manu Fernandez
N1 Bosna i HercegovinaIndependentCenter5 days agoEgypt and Belgium drew 1:1 in their opening match of Group G at this year's World Cup. Belgium started stronger but Egypt equalized in the 22nd minute through Mohamed Salah, who assisted a goal by Ahmed Ashour. Belgium had chances later in the first half but failed to score.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a sports match with no political commentary or framing. It focuses solely on the game events and does not take a stance or show bias toward either team.
Daily MirrorParty-alignedCenter5 days agoThe article covers the World Cup matches involving Belgium vs. Egypt and Spain vs. Cape Verde. Belgium took the lead through Emam Ashour before Egypt's Mohamed Hany scored an own goal, leveling the match. Spain was held to a 0-0 draw by Cape Verde. Additional details mention Iran's arrival in the US despite visa issues and a brief mention of Donald Trump signing a peace deal with Iran.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on sports events without overt political commentary or biased framing. It focuses on match outcomes, player actions, and logistical updates related to the World Cup, maintaining a neutral tone.
OslobođenjeIndependentCenter6 days agoEgypt took an early lead against Belgium in their opening match of Group G at the World Cup with a spectacular goal by Emam Ashour. The goal came in the first 20 minutes when Ashour struck a powerful shot that beat Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who had no chance to stop it. The article highlights the strength of the strike and notes Courtois' reputation as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
Bias read (Center): The article is purely descriptive and focuses on the sporting event without any political commentary, framing, or biased language. It reports on the game's events objectively, emphasizing the quality of the goal and Courtois' performance without taking a stance or using loaded terms.
OslobođenjeIndependentCenter6 days ago Famous Belgium and Egypt lineups, Group G of the World Cup beginsThe article discusses an upcoming match between Belgium and Egypt in Group G of the World Cup. It lists the starting lineups for both teams and mentions Belgium's status as favorites in the group.
Bias read (Center): The article provides factual information about a sports event without any political commentary, bias, or framing that suggests a particular ideological stance.
KurierIndependentCenter6 days agoIn the opening match of Group G at the World Cup in Seattle, Belgium and Egypt played to a 1-1 draw. Egypt took the lead in the 20th minute through Eman Ashour, capitalizing on defensive lapses by Belgium. Belgium equalized shortly after the 66th-minute substitution of Romelu Lukaku, who was involved in the goal within 23 seconds of entering the game. Belgium struggled with efficiency and missed chances, including a striking effort from Kevin De Bruyne that hit the post in the 52nd minute.
Bias read (Center): The article provides a neutral account of a sports match without taking a stance on any political issue. It focuses solely on the gameplay, player performances, and match outcomes.
The NationalState / PublicCenter6 days ago Egypt vs Belgium preview: Mohamed Salah eyes birthday gift as Pharaohs chase World Cup historyEgypt faces Belgium in their opening match of the World Cup, with both teams considering each other strong contenders in Group G. The article highlights Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush as key players for Egypt, while Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois acknowledges the challenge posed by Egypt. The piece includes background on Salah's career and his relationship with Courtois.
Bias read (Center): The article provides a neutral overview of the upcoming football match between Egypt and Belgium, focusing on player profiles, team dynamics, and pre-match commentary without taking a stance or using biased language.
Večernje novostiParty-alignedCenter7 days agoThe article mentions Belgium's selector and refers to a statement about facing Egypt in their first World Cup match, noting Belgium as the group G favorite.
Bias read (Center): The article discusses a sports event (World Cup) and does not take a political stance or show bias in framing. The content is purely informational about a football match.
