World Cup 2026: Belgium rescue point against Egypt in Group G thriller

Belgium were seconds away from one of the most embarrassing defeats in their recent history before Lois Openda’s 94th-minute equalizer dragged them back to 2-2 against Egypt in a pulsating World Cup 2026 Group G clash at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday night.

Egypt stun the Red Devils with first-half double

Nobody saw this coming. Egypt, making their first World Cup appearance since 1990, took the game to Belgium from the first whistle and were rewarded with two goals inside 38 minutes. Omar Marmoush opened the scoring on 21 minutes with a low, curling strike that crept inside Koen Casteels’ right post. Then came the moment that silenced the large Belgian contingent in the crowd of 72,000 — Mostafa Mohamed bundled home a second from close range after a corner that Belgium’s defenders simply didn’t deal with.

Belgium went into the half-time break rattled. Their passing was disjointed, their press completely ineffective. It didn’t look like a team that finished third at the 2018 World Cup.

Belgium respond but Egypt hold firm — until they don’t

Domenico Tedesco made a bold call at the break, introducing Leandro Trossard and shifting the shape to a 4-2-3-1. It worked, at least partially. Kevin De Bruyne, who had been anonymous in the first half, suddenly found pockets of space and started pulling the strings. Romelu Lukaku — starting despite persistent questions about his fitness heading into the tournament — pulled one back on 58 minutes, latching onto a De Bruyne through-ball and finishing coolly past Gabaski.

Belgium pushed and pushed. But Egypt defended with genuine discipline and real heart, pressing Belgium back with their own quick transitions. The clock ticked toward 90 minutes and it looked like Hany Ramzy’s side were about to write one of the great World Cup upsets.

Then Openda happened.

The RB Leipzig striker, on as a substitute just nine minutes earlier, met Trossard’s whipped cross at the back post and powered a header into the roof of the net. SoFi Stadium erupted in chaos. Belgium had their point, but only just.

What it means for Group G

Egypt’s head coach Hany Ramzy was measured but clearly frustrated in the post-match mixed zone. “We came to take three points tonight, not one,” he said. “The players gave everything. We deserved more.”

With Morocco and Canada drawing 1-1 in the other Group G fixture earlier in the day, the group is genuinely wide open after Matchday 1. Belgium sit second on goal difference, Egypt third, Morocco fourth, and Canada bottom.

Belgium can’t afford another slow start

The Red Devils have the talent to go deep in this tournament — De Bruyne, Lukaku, Trossard, and a solid defensive core are nothing to dismiss. But that first-half performance against Egypt will have sent a warning to Tedesco that his side simply aren’t firing yet. Their next group game comes against Morocco on Saturday in Dallas. That one won’t be any easier.