Romelu Lukaku forced Egypt into an own goal within seconds of entering the game and favoured Belgium escaped with a 1-1 draw in the opening Group G match of the 2026 World Cup at Seattle Stadium on Monday (Jun 15).

Lukaku's equaliser came just 23 seconds after entering the game in the 66th minute and prevented Egypt from winning their first game in their fourth World Cup appearance.

Midfielder Emam Ashour scored his first international goal with a superb shot from 20 yards out to give Egypt a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute.

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan opted to play Mohamed Salah centrally on the legend's 34th birthday and the move worked out brilliantly from the outset.

After drawing an early yellow card on Belgium, Salah then delivered a clinical pass to Ashour on the back side of the defence.

Ashour used his first touch to set up the shot with his right foot, which he struck at 21mph and buried in the lower left corner of the net past the outstretched right arm of Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. The strike just before the hydration break was the first for Ashour in his 30th appearance for Egypt.

Courtois would later make an excellent save diving in the same direction off a shot from Mostafa Zico in the 33rd minute. Egypt put both of their first-half shots on frame, while Belgium failed to test Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shoubir with any of their eight attempts.

Belgium repeatedly attacked from the edges in the first half but were unable to effectively threaten Shoubir.

That changed early in the second half, with the game opening up and Belgium applying more pressure in the box while Egypt mounted several dangerous counterattacks.

Salah nearly scored off a header in the 55th minute, with Courtois making another diving save. Omar Marmoush later fired a shot from inside the box that was deflected wide of the goal with Courtois leaning the opposite direction.

Belgium decided to add more physicality with Lukaku entering in the 66th minute. Twenty-three seconds later, the Napoli striker split two defenders off a cross from Thomas Meunier and forced the own goal as the ball deflected off Mohamed Hany's foot in a pile in front of Shoubir.

It was an immediate and massive impact from Lukaku, who made only six appearances for Napoli this season due to thigh and hip flexor injuries.

"He's a target man," Belgium midfielder Youri Tielemans said. “He needs to build up his fitness, which is understandable after being out for the season, but he helps us in this way.”

Meanwhile, Salah's day ended when the long-time Liverpool star was subbed off in the 75th minute.

"Salah was performing very well and all players. But you must be with the existing atmosphere, the heat - we must activate substitutions according to match circumstances," Hassan said, per translation.

“We had real chances before their equalising goal came. After Belgium equalised, we had many chances and could have won the match.”

With the temperature hovering around 90 degrees, the heat appeared to take its toll on both sides, who each finished with only three shots on target.

The final threat came from Belgium's Brandon Mechele, whose attempt in extra time sailed harmlessly over the bar.

"The opening match of a competition like the World Cup is always a tough one, especially against one of Africa's top teams like Egypt," Belgium coach Rudi Garcia said.

"They scored with their first shot on target, and against a side like that you can't afford to let them get in front because it only reinforces the way they want to play.

“The important thing is that we stayed in the game. We managed to equalise thanks to a player who came off the bench, which shows just how important the whole squad is. We had chances to win it, but their goalkeeper made some outstanding saves. It was a great game between two very good teams.”

Egypt will next play New Zealand in Vancouver on Sunday, while Belgium will face Iran in Inglewood, California, earlier that day.

Hassan classified Monday's draw as "very positive" while saying the focus immediately turns to New Zealand.

"Before the match, I dreamed and hoped that we would achieve a positive result," Hassan said. "I was only thinking about the Belgium match because I do not think about what comes after it.

“Just as I will only think about the next match, God willing, which is against New Zealand. This is the match I am working on. This is what we can focus on.”

Source: AFP
--Agencies