2026 World Cup: Belgium vs Egypt, New Generation of Red Devils

JAKARTA - The opening match of Group G of the 2026 World Cup will bring together two teams that are expected to be the main contenders for qualifying for the knockout stage when Belgium faces Egypt at the Seattle Stadium, Tuesday, June 16 at 02.00 WIB. This match is not only a preliminary test for both countries, but also has the potential to determine the map of the group competition which is also inhabited by Iran and New Zealand.

Belgium came to the tournament with the ambition of erasing the bad memories of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. At that time, the golden generation who had been touted for years to be able to bring the trophy failed to meet expectations after being eliminated in the group stage. Four years later, a number of senior figures are still surviving, but now they are accompanied by a new generation that is expected to be able to restore the Red Devils' competitiveness on the world stage.

Under the direction of coach Rudi Garcia, Belgium underwent a transition process without losing quality. They ranked ninth in FIFA and entered the tournament as one of the top teams from Europe. Although not on the list of major favorites like France or Spain, Belgium is still considered to have the quality to go far.

Meanwhile, Egypt arrived in North America with a mission to make history. The North African country holds the record of seven African Cup of Nations titles, but their achievements in the World Cup have never been comparable to their dominance at the continental level. From the previous three participations in 1934, 1990, and 2018, The Pharaohs have never won a single victory.

The 2026 World Cup is a new opportunity for Egypt to erase that record. The presence of Mohamed Salah, who is likely to play his last world tournament, adds its own motivation to the team coached by Hossam Hassan.

Group G is predicted to be one of the competitive groups. Belgium and Egypt are considered to have the greatest chance to finish in the top two positions, so the results of this opening match can provide a huge psychological and mathematical advantage in the race for tickets to the round of 16.

Belgium qualified for the final round after winning their qualifying group with 18 points from eight matches. Productivity is one of the main strengths of this team with 29 goals and only seven goals conceded. These statistics show a fairly good balance between the attack and defense lines.

Belgium's performance ahead of the tournament is also quite convincing. In the four friendly matches after securing their ticket to the World Cup, they won three victories and one draw. The United States, Croatia, and Tunisia were defeated, while the back line only conceded three goals. In the last two matches, Belgium was even able to keep the goal clean.

Belgium's main strength still rests on the combination of experience and creativity. Thibaut Courtois remains one of the best goalkeepers in the world. In midfield, Kevin De Bruyne and Youri Tielemans offer a vision of playing and quality of ball distribution that can control the tempo of the match.

In the front line, Romelu Lukaku is still the focus even though he has experienced fitness problems throughout the season. The presence of Jeremy Doku and Leandro Trossard gives a different dimension through speed and ability to penetrate from the field.

Egypt's consistency

Egypt came to the tournament with an equally interesting capital. They qualified from the African zone without losing in 10 matches and collected 26 points. Consistency was the main foundation of their success in reaching the final round.

Despite failing to win the 2025 African Cup after being eliminated in the semifinals by Senegal, Egypt still showed significant progress under Hossam Hassan. In the five matches after the tournament, they recorded two wins, one draw, and two losses with only two goals conceded.

The biggest highlight is certainly directed to Mohamed Salah. The Liverpool striker is 33 years old and is still a central figure in Egyptian football. Ahead of the tournament, his fitness was a concern due to a hamstring injury suffered at the end of the club season. Although it is confirmed that he is available for this match, Salah is believed to not be in the best physical condition.

The situation makes the role of Omar Marmoush, Trezeguet, and Ahmed Sayed Zizo increasingly important. The three of them are expected to be able to help reduce the offensive burden that Salah has been carrying for a long time.

Historically, Egypt has a pretty good record when facing Belgium. From the previous four meetings, all of which were friendly matches, Egypt won three victories and only lost once. The last meeting in November 2022 ended with a 2-1 victory for Egypt through Salah's impressive performance and his colleagues.

However, the context of this match is different. The World Cup presents much greater pressure than a friendly match, and Belgium has more mature experience in facing high-intensity matches at the international level.

In terms of tactics, Belgium is expected to dominate the ball more with a flexible formation. Garcia is likely to place De Bruyne as the main link between the midfield and the front line, while Doku and Trossard will try to open space from the wing sector.

Egypt is likely to choose a more pragmatic approach. Hossam Hassan is known as a coach who prioritizes defensive organization and quick transitions. With Marmoush's speed and Salah's individual quality, Egypt has the potential to create a threat through counterattacks.

Fitness factors can also play a significant role. Belgium comes relatively with a more prepared squad even though some senior players are no longer at the peak of their performance. On the other hand, Salah's condition is one of the biggest variables that can affect the course of the match.

If the captain is able to play near his best level, Egypt has the opportunity to provide a serious fight. However, if Salah has not fully recovered, the creativity and effectiveness of the Egyptian attack can be significantly reduced.

This match is expected to be tight because both teams realize the importance of avoiding defeat in the first match. However, the individual quality of Belgium in almost all lines makes them a little more favored to start the tournament with a victory.

Belgium has an advantage in squad quality, big tournament experience, and player depth. The presence of Courtois, De Bruyne, Tielemans, Doku, and Lukaku provides a balance between experience and creativity. This team also showed high productivity throughout the qualifiers and preparation matches.

Egypt relies on a disciplined game organization and the effectiveness of counterattacks. Salah's experience and Marmoush's sharpness are the main assets that can threaten Belgium's defense.

Belgium's weakness lies in the declining performance of several senior players as well as dependence on De Bruyne's creativity. If Egypt manages to cut off the supply of the ball to the front line, Belgium can have difficulty creating clean opportunities.

Meanwhile, Egypt's weakness is seen in the lack of experience at the World Cup level and a heavy reliance on Salah as a source of inspiration for the attack. The captain's physical condition, which has not fully recovered, can also reduce the effectiveness of their game.

The midfield is expected to be the area that determines the outcome of the match. If Tielemans and De Bruyne are able to dominate ball possession, Belgium will find it easier to control the course of the match. On the other hand, if Egypt manages to force the match to run open and take advantage of the space behind the Belgian defense, they have the opportunity to steal points.

Belgium is predicted to dominate possession of the ball, while Egypt will wait for opportunities through quick transitions. The difference in individual quality in the final third of the field is likely to be the main differentiator.

Prediction: Belgium 2-1 Egypt.

Belgium

Thibaut Courtois; Thomas Meunier, Nathan Ngoy, Arthur Theate, Maxim De Cuyper; Amadou Onana, Youri Tielemans; Leandro Trossard, Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku; Romelu Lukaku.

Egypt

Mohamed El Shenawy; Mohamed Hany, Yasser Ibrahim, Ramy Rabia, Ahmed Fatouh; Mohanad Lasheen, Hamdy Fathy; Mohamed Salah, Trezeguet, Ahmed Zizo; Omar Marmoush.

2026 World Cup Group G

Belgium vs Egypt

Seattle Stadium (Lumen Field), Seattle

16 June 2026

Kick-off 02.00 WIB