VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Jubilant Egyptian players danced across the BC Place pitch Sunday night, while thousands of fans clad in the national team’s signature red roared from the sold-out stands, as the Pharaohs claimed a long-awaited milestone: their first victory at a men’s FIFA World Cup.
The matchup got off to a quick start for New Zealand’s All Whites, who drew first blood in the 15th minute. 6-foot-3 Portland Timbers defender Finn Surman connected with a corner kick from Instagram-famous winger Tim Payne, nodding a flying header past Egypt’s goalkeeper to put New Zealand up 1-0. The score held through halftime, despite a close 35th-minute chance for Mohamed Salah: the star forward collected a laid-off free kick from Omar Marmoush, and his curling effort bent just wide of the post, hitting the side netting before the half-time whistle blew.
In the locker room between frames, Egyptian head coach Hossam Hassan delivered a rousing pep talk to his squad, doubling down on their commitment to secure the historic win. “In between the first and the second half, we said it’s a no-go, we are not going to leave this pitch unless we claim the victory for ourselves, unless we make everyone proud and happy,” Hassan told reporters after the match. “I told them, I told the players, I am not willing to withdraw, I am not willing to go two steps back.”
That determination translated into relentless pressure out of the halftime break, and Egypt’s equalizer arrived in the 58th minute. Mostafa “Zico” Mohamed found open space between Surman and Payne to connect with a cross, nodding a header that New Zealand keeper Max Crocombe got a glove to but couldn’t keep out of the net. Zico immediately gestured to the crowd to crank up the volume, igniting the already raucous Egyptian fanbase.
Nine minutes later, Salah put the Pharaohs ahead for good, collecting a deft back-heel pass from Zico before slotting home the go-ahead goal. The 67th-minute strike was Salah’s 68th international goal, leaving him just one tally behind Hassan, who holds Egypt’s all-time national team scoring record. The Liverpool star celebrated by pumping his fist to the crowd before being swarmed by jubilant teammates. When he was subbed off in the 85th minute, the entire sellout crowd rose to give him a standing ovation.
Egypt capped off the win three minutes before full time, when Trezeguet scored a diving header to lock in a 3-1 final score. The full-time whistle brought chaotic celebrations: Hassan and an assistant grabbed a massive Egyptian flag, sprinting around the pitch waving it high above their heads, while fans sang and cheered long after the game ended.
“I always give my best to the national team,” Salah told reporters after the match. “Today I think is a very special day, with our first win in the World Cup.”
This marks Egypt’s fourth World Cup appearance, after the nation failed to qualify for the 2022 Qatar tournament. Salah previously notched two goals for the Pharaohs at the 2018 Russia World Cup. Egypt was forced to make an early substitution in the first half Sunday, after midfielder Hamdy Fathy picked up an apparent non-contact injury and was replaced by Ramy Rabia.
The win lifts Egypt to the top of Group G standings, though the squad has not yet secured a spot in the tournament’s knockout round. Up next, the Pharaohs will face off against Iran in a decisive group stage match Friday in Seattle, needing at least a draw to advance to the knockout rounds.
In opening group play, Egypt earned a 1-1 draw against Belgium, where Emam Ashour scored an early opener before a late own goal sparked by substitute Romelu Lukaku leveled the score. New Zealand, meanwhile, twice took the lead against Iran in their opening match, only to concede and finish with a 2-2 draw, with both of the All Whites’ goals coming from Elijah Just.
Earlier Sunday in Inglewood, California, Iran and Belgium played to a scoreless draw, leaving both teams with two consecutive draws to open the tournament. New Zealand, still hunting for its first ever World Cup win, will return to Vancouver to face Belgium on Friday. While the All Whites have not yet been eliminated from contention, veteran striker Chris Wood acknowledged the path to advancement will be an uphill battle.
“You just have to believe and be positive,” Wood said. “We’re still one win away. We can still go in, beat Belgium and go through. I’m not going to lie, it’s going to be very tough.”