Belgium narrowly avoided an opening-day upset at the 2026 World Cup when substitute Romelu Lukaku forced an own goal within half a minute of entering the fray, cancelling out Emam Ashour’s first-half strike and holding Egypt to a 1-1 draw at Seattle’s Lumen Field. The result preserved the Red Devils’ unbeaten record in tournament debuts stretching back to 1986, but it also extended Egypt’s frustrating wait for a maiden victory on football’s biggest stage, now spanning four appearances. Lukaku, left on the bench by coach Rudi Garcia in favour of a false-nine system built around Charles De Ketelaere, was introduced in the 66th minute and needed just 28 seconds to alter the contest, his aggressive run forcing defender Mohamed Hany to turn a low cross into his own net.

Viewed from Cairo, the evening had begun with a sense of destiny. On his 34th birthday, Mohamed Salah, currently without a club after departing Liverpool, drifted into a central playmaking role and delivered a precise pass that Ashour rifled past Thibaut Courtois from 20 yards in the 19th minute. Egypt’s disciplined first-half performance stifled a Belgian side that failed to register a single shot on target before the interval, and the Pharaohs threatened to join the tournament’s early pattern of surprises, following Spain’s goalless draw with Cape Verde earlier in the day. Salah’s influence waned after the break, but his assist and the team’s organisation under coach Hossam Hassan suggested a side capable of finally breaking their World Cup duck in North America.

From a European vantage point, Belgium’s display raised familiar questions about a golden generation in twilight. Kevin De Bruyne struck the post with a second-half free-kick and Youri Tielemans, captaining the side, later acknowledged that the team “must improve in many aspects”. Garcia’s decision to omit a recognised centre-forward backfired in the first half, and only Lukaku’s immediate impact — and Courtois’s sharp saves — prevented a damaging defeat. Analysts in Brussels note that the draw leaves Belgium under pressure ahead of a meeting with Iran in Los Angeles, a match that now carries heightened significance for a squad still seeking to better its third-place finish in Russia eight years ago.

Across the wider group, the stalemate in Seattle handed an unexpected opportunity to Iran and New Zealand, who were due to meet later on Monday in Los Angeles. A victory for either would create early separation in Group G, raising the stakes for both Belgium and Egypt when they resume on 21 June. For Egypt, the fixture against New Zealand in Vancouver now looks like a historic chance to secure that elusive win, while Belgium must confront an Iran side that has consistently proved awkward for favoured opponents in recent tournaments. With the Pacific Northwest heat adding an extra layer of attrition, the draw felt like a result that satisfied neither camp but left the group intriguingly open.