Belgium salvaged a lucky 1-1 draw against Egypt in their World Cup 2026 opener in Seattle on Monday, with the second-half introduction of Romelu Lukaku forcing an own goal.
A powerful strike by midfielder Emam Ashour, his first international goal opened the scoring for Egypt in the 19th minute.
Belgium missed several chances to get back into the game after falling behind. Jeremy Doku fired well wide just before half-time, while Kevin De Bruyne struck the post with a free kick as Egypt began dreaming of their first-ever World Cup win.
However, Belgium found a lifeline when Lukaku came on in the 66th minute. The striker, who struggled with injuries during a difficult season at Napoli, made an immediate impact. Less than half a minute after entering the field, Belgium were level as Egypt defender Mohamed Hany accidentally turned a dangerous cross into his own net.
The match remained open until the end, with both teams pushing for victory. Egypt continued to attack instead of settling for a draw, while Lukaku missed a great chance to win it for Belgium when he headed wide from close range with just two minutes of normal time remaining.
Belgium coach Rudi Garcia praised Lukaku’s influence, saying the striker can still make a big difference even when he does not start matches.
“If he can keep coming off the bench and scoring, that would be perfect,” Garcia said. “Any defender gets worried when they see Lukaku coming on.”
Despite dropping points, Garcia remained optimistic about Belgium’s chances in the tournament. The draw, however, means their next match against Iran in Los Angeles has become much more important.
As expected, both teams started cautiously. Belgium slowly took control and created the first real chance, but De Bruyne dragged his shot wide from the edge of the penalty area.
Just when Belgium seemed to be settling into the game, Egypt struck first. On his 34th birthday, captain Mohamed Salah, playing in a deeper central role, picked out Ashour, who finished past Thibaut Courtois to give Egypt the lead.
Belgium increased the pressure before halftime. Leandro Trossard missed a good opportunity after a cutback from Doku, while Doku himself failed to convert another chance deep into added time.
Early in the second half, De Bruyne came close to equalising with a free kick that beat goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir but hit the post. At the other end, Egypt also had chances to extend their lead as Belgium pushed forward in search of a goal.
