Belgium 1-1 Egypt: World Cup 2026 – as it happened
All the updates, with full photo coverage of the entire day, from our text commentary stream service.
This page is now closed, but a summary of the game is available below, and you can click here for our full match report. Thanks for joining us at Al Jazeera Sport.
This page is now closed, but a summary of the game is available below, and you can click here for our full match report. Thanks for joining us at Al Jazeera Sport.
- Belgium and Egypt begin their World Cup 2026 campaigns by sharing a 1-1 draw.
- The match was played in Seattle, Washington, United States, on what was Egypt star Mo Salah’s 34th birthday.
- The Red Devils finished third in Russia in 2018, but their “Golden Generation” have faded in age and performance.
- Egypt qualified for the fourth time after 1934, 1990 and 2018, but have never won a World Cup match.
- Argentina are the current World Cup holders, having beaten France in the final at Qatar 2022.
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- Live updates
- Match stats
- Lineups
- 15 Jun 2026 - 22:07(22:07 GMT)
Goodbye
That is it from our live coverage of Belgium against Egypt.
The Pharaohs’ wait for their first World Cup win goes on, but all the signs are their that the north Africans can make a serious impact on the tournament,
The live action keeps coming from Al Jazeera, and you can head straight to our commentary service of Iran’s opener against New Zealand.
Click here to join Hafsa Adil and the team.
For now, though – from me Kevin Hand – its goodbye.
- 15 Jun 2026 - 21:52(21:52 GMT)
Read all about it
Click here to read the Belgium-Egypt match report.
- 15 Jun 2026 - 21:37(21:37 GMT)
Salah’s birthday treat
34 - With his assist for Egypt's opening goal against Belgium, Mohamed Salah is the first African player on record (since 1966) to register a FIFA World Cup goal involvement on their birthday.
Celebrations. pic.twitter.com/t0xcctY1TC
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 15, 2026
Advertisement - 15 Jun 2026 - 21:32(21:32 GMT)
Photos: The view from Cairo
Egypt fans react as they watch the match at the The Gezira Sporting Club in Cairo [Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters] 
Egypt fans look dejected after Belgium scores their first goal, as they watch the match at the Gezira Sporting Club in Cairo [Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters] 
Young Egypt fans react as they watch the match at the The Gezira Sporting Club in Cairo [Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters] - 15 Jun 2026 - 21:27(21:27 GMT)
Photos: Egypt’s post-match scenes
Egypt’s Mostafa Shoubir talks to coach Hossam Hassan at the end of the match at Seattle Stadium, on June 15, 2026 [Albert Gea/Reuters] 
Egypt’s Mohamed Hany reacts after the match [Steven Bisig/Imagn Images via Reuters] 
Egypt’s Mohanad Lashin after the match [Blake Dahlin/Imagn Images via Reuters] - 15 Jun 2026 - 21:21(21:21 GMT)
Belgium vs Egypt – the stats
𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐠𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝟏-𝟏 𝐄𝐠𝐲𝐩𝐭 𝐅𝐓
Romelu Lukaku forces an equaliser just 22 seconds after coming off the bench, and the first game in Group G ends in a stalemate. pic.twitter.com/f4pLCYtNII
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) June 15, 2026
- 15 Jun 2026 - 21:15(21:15 GMT)
Photos: Belgium’s mixed emotions
Belgium’s Kevin De Bruyne acknowledges fans after the match [Lee Smith/Reuters] 
Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku celebrates their first goal, an own-goal scored by Egypt’s Mohamed Hany [Reuters] 
Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku reacts [Agustin Marcarian/Reuters] - 15 Jun 2026 - 21:09(21:09 GMT)
The day’s top story: Racism monitor urges FIFA to remove VAR official over gesture
FIFA’s discrimination monitor at the World Cup has called for a VAR official to be removed for appearing to make a hand gesture resembling a white supremacist sign.
When the official broadcast of Germany’s opening game against Curacao on Sunday cut pre-game to show the team of video review analysts, Shaun Evans from Australia made an “OK” symbol with his right hand in front of his right leg. Though the game was played in Houston, video officials work in Dallas at the World Cup broadcast centre.
In 2019, the gesture – with thumb and forefinger touched in a circle and other fingers outstretched – was designated a hate symbol by the New York-based Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
“Advice from our experts is that the gesture used clearly resembles an upside down ‘OK’ hand symbol used as a ‘white power’ symbol in global far-right circles,” the Fare network, a longtime partner of FIFA and UEFA to monitor racist and discriminatory chants, flags and symbols at international games, said in a statement.
“Clearly this official should have no further role to play in this World Cup,” Fare said in a statement, describing the gesture as “neo-Nazi”.
- 15 Jun 2026 - 21:05(21:05 GMT)
Stat attack
That goal ends a run of 325 minutes of World Cup football for Belgium without scoring, since Michy Batshuayi's goal in their opening group-stage game at Qatar 2022. pic.twitter.com/S8a6DO0f9x
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) June 15, 2026
Advertisement - 15 Jun 2026 - 20:57(20:57 GMT)
Second half ends, Belgium 1, Egypt 1.
- 15 Jun 2026 - 20:56(20:56 GMT)
Commentary
Attempt missed. Brandon Mechele (Belgium) right footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Youri Tielemans with a cross following a set piece situation.
- 15 Jun 2026 - 20:55(20:55 GMT)
Commentary
Leandro Trossard (Belgium) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 15 Jun 2026 - 20:55(20:55 GMT)
Commentary
Foul by Zizo (Egypt).
- 15 Jun 2026 - 20:52(20:52 GMT)
Commentary
Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time.
- 15 Jun 2026 - 20:52(20:52 GMT)
Commentary
Attempt blocked. Mohamed Hany (Egypt) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Omar Marmoush.
- 15 Jun 2026 - 20:50(20:50 GMT)
Substitution, Egypt. Karim Hafez replaces Ahmed Fatouh.
Substitution, Egypt. Ibrahim Adel replaces Hamdi Fathy.
- 15 Jun 2026 - 20:48(20:48 GMT)
Commentary
Attempt missed. Romelu Lukaku (Belgium) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Nicolas Raskin with a cross.
- 15 Jun 2026 - 20:47(20:47 GMT)
Substitution, Belgium. Matias Fernandez-Pardo replaces Jérémy Doku.
Substitution, Belgium. Hans Vanaken replaces Kevin De Bruyne.
- 15 Jun 2026 - 20:46(20:46 GMT)
Commentary
Attempt blocked. Omar Marmoush (Egypt) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Hamdi Fathy.
- 15 Jun 2026 - 20:45(20:45 GMT)
Commentary
Corner, Egypt. Conceded by Thibaut Courtois.