Written by Rhea Alison, Sports reporter, covering international sports since 2020
Belgium vs Egypt World Cup draw recap
Belgium vs Egypt World Cup draw ended 1-1 in Seattle as Egypt’s bid for a first-ever World Cup win was denied late in their Group G opener on Monday. Egypt took the lead through Emam Ashour’s long-range strike in the 20th minute at Seattle Stadium, but Belgium responded after halftime when Romelu Lukaku’s quick impact off the bench forced an own goal from Mohamed Hany just seconds after his introduction. The result means both teams leave the match with one point in a tight group where every result carries weight.
Egypt started brightly and used the energy of a loud travelling crowd to frustrate Belgium, but the European side gradually pushed forward through sustained pressure. Lukaku’s introduction in the 66th minute changed the tempo immediately, and Belgium continued to create late chances while Egypt defended deep to protect their point.
Post-match, Youri Tielemans said, “I think our biggest challenge was about us. We were too static, especially in the first half.”
The draw keeps Group G open ahead of the next fixtures, with Belgium meeting Iran and Egypt facing New Zealand.
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