Egypt chases first-ever World Cup victory in opening clash against Belgium in Seattle
Egypt will attempt to end its seven-match winless streak at the World Cup when it faces Belgium on Monday in Seattle, with Mohamed Salah leading an ambitious generation against the star-studded Belgian side.
Egypt's winless World Cup history
Egypt has never won a World Cup match, recording only two draws and five defeats in seven appearances across 1934, 1990, and 2018. The team's best showing came in 1990 under current coach Hossam Hassan, who played up front during that tournament.
The pharaohs are determined to break the curse, with former captains citing Salah's leadership as the key.We have some negative perception here because we have not participated, except for four times in the World Cup. But I think now we have a generation that deserves to be here.
- First World Cup appearance, Egypt loses in the first round.
- Egypt posts its best result with two draws and a loss; Hossam Hassan scores against Algeria.
- Salah scores twice but Egypt loses all three group matches, exiting in the first round.
- Egypt faces Belgium in the Group G opener, aiming for its first World Cup win.
Belgium under pressure after 2022 exit
Belgium enters the match aiming to avoid a repeat of its 2022 group stage elimination and to recapture the form that carried it to third place in 2018. Coach Rudi Garcia is treating the opener with the gravity of a final.
Captain Youri Tielemans acknowledged the nerves surrounding a first game but urged his side to start well. Garcia, managing his first World Cup match, described Egypt as "one of the best African squads of all time," while noting that every team has exploitable weaknesses.We really need to go all-in tomorrow as if it is the final.
Star power on display
The match features two of the Premier League's most iconic recent exports. Mohamed Salah, who turns 34 on matchday, hopes to erase the disappointment of an injury‑hit 2018 campaign, where he scored twice but Egypt lost all three matches. He has 65 international goals and a club legacy of 257 strikes for Liverpool.
Alongside Salah, Manchester City's Omar Marmoush provides pace on the counter, while Belgium counters with Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois, and the explosive Jérémy Doku.For me, Salah is the best player in the world. His presence is extremely important for us; not only as a star, but also as a leader who gives us confidence and strength.
Group G gives both teams breathing room
The group also includes Iran and New Zealand, meaning even a loss would not be fatal to either side's knockout hopes. Egypt's Hassan stressed that the ambition is to accumulate enough points to advance, while Belgium wants to win the group to secure a more favourable path in the last 32 and last 16. Garcia emphasised the need to be "protagonists" from the start.
History and heat add intrigue
Egypt has beaten Belgium in three of their four past meetings, most recently in 2022.
The match in Seattle will be played in a heat wave, with hydration breaks doubling as tactical timeouts for Garcia, who called them "coaching breaks." Former Egypt captains are publicly backing Salah to deliver.We would like to have history repeat itself.
Salah is a natural leader and I believe he can give Egypt its first World Cup victory.
