Belgium vs Egypt: Result, Stats & Predictions (World Cup 2026)
Belgium rescued a 1-1 draw against Egypt thanks to a Lukaku-forced own goal 22 seconds after he came on — denying Egypt a historic first World Cup win.
15 June 2026
Result
Belgium 1-1 Egypt — Group G, Lumen Field, Seattle, 15 June 2026.
Emam Ashour gave Egypt a deserved lead in the 19th minute with his first international goal, a composed finish from distance. Belgium struggled to respond but manager's gamble of sending on Romelu Lukaku in the 66th minute paid off almost immediately: just 22 seconds after coming on, Lukaku's presence forced Thomas Meunier's cross to deflect off Mohamed Hany for an own goal. Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shobier then made a fine late save to deny Brandon Mechele, and Lukaku headed over to preserve the draw.
What it means for Last Man Standing pools
Belgium were a reasonable LMS pick for week one — not quite a banker, but a side most forecasters expected to win comfortably against Egypt. The draw means anyone who used Belgium in round one is left regretting it. Egypt, meanwhile, were the kind of long-shot that would have saved almost nobody, but their performance showed they were by no means an easy ride. Belgium's failure to win without Lukaku from the start is a warning sign for LMS players considering them in later rounds.
Pre-match forecasts
Pre-match forecasts placed Belgium's win probability at approximately 61%, with Egypt at 17% and a draw at 24%, according to market consensus from prediction aggregators. Belgium were priced around -150 to -175 on major exchanges. The expectation was a fairly straightforward Belgian victory, with Egypt's historical difficulty at World Cups — they had not won a World Cup match in 92 years entering this game — factored into the markets.
Standout stats
Egypt's 92-year wait for a first World Cup victory continues after this draw. They last appeared at a World Cup in 1990 and had never won a game in the tournament, a streak that stretches back to 1934 — per tournament records, one of the longest active winless runs in men's World Cup history.
Lukaku's equalising contribution came just 22 seconds after entering the pitch — one of the fastest impacts by a substitute at a World Cup. Per FIFA match data, he touched the ball twice before the own goal went in. For Belgium, the concern going forward is a midfield that created little before his introduction, and a goalkeeper who was tested more than expected by an organised Egyptian side.
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