After falling behind 1-0, Belgium brought on Lukaku in the 66th minute, and he quickly leveled the score just 23 seconds later. The striker’s run through the center forced Egyptian defender Mohamed Hany to inadvertently turn a cross into his own goal.
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Romelu Lukaku equalizes just 22 seconds after entering the game, resulting in a draw for the opening match in Group G. pic.twitter.com/f4pLCYtNII
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) June 15, 2026
Egypt took the lead in the 19th minute through Emam Ashour, who seized a defensive error to net his first international goal. The midfielder, playing in his 30th match for the national team, provided Egypt with only its second lead ever in a World Cup encounter.
The Egyptians created multiple opportunities to build on their lead but were unable to finish, giving Belgium a chance to come back. Both Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne attempted to find a late winner, but neither team could find the back of the net.
Belgium, which faced elimination in the group stage four years ago in Qatar, has now gone three consecutive World Cup matches without a win, while Egypt continues its search for a first-ever victory in the tournament.
Brief Scores
Belgium 1 – 1 Egypt
