Egypt
World Cup 2026 Group G — fixtures, standings, and knockout path
Salah's last shot at history
At 34, Mo Salah faces his final realistic World Cup chance—Egypt’s all-time top scorer (53 goals) has never advanced past the group stage. Manager Rui Vitória leans on a spine of Al Ahly defenders and European-based attackers like Mostafa Mohamed (Nantes). The 7-0 qualifier win over Ethiopia showed their attacking potential, but 2023 AFCON exits to Morocco and Senegal exposed defensive gaps against elite teams.
CAF’s qualifying gauntlet
Egypt scraped through Africa’s brutal qualifiers via a playoff win over Burkina Faso, surviving despite Salah’s mid-campaign injury. Their 2026 squad mixes veterans (Mohamed Elneny) with Eredivisie talents like Feyenoord’s Osama Ashraf. Key weakness: only one clean sheet in their last 10 matches against FIFA top-50 teams. See their full qualifying path at /world-cup-qualifiers.
Group stage ghosts and 2026 stakes
Egypt’s three previous World Cups all ended in group-stage exits—including 2018’s cruel 1-0 losses to Uruguay and Saudi Arabia. Their 2026 draw could pit them against a European heavyweight and CONMEBOL dark horse, demanding tactical flexibility. The expanded format helps: 8 third-place teams advance. Track their group at /world-cup-2026-groups.
Knockout route: top two qualify automatically; a third-place finish may still advance as one of the eight best third-placed teams. View Group G hub →
Group standings
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Belgium | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Egypt | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 |  Iran | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 |  New Zealand | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Fixtures & results
| Match | Date | Group | Score | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium vs EgyptEstadio Seattle | Mon, Jun 15, 2026 · 20:00 ET | g | – | Scheduled |
| New Zealand vs EgyptBC Place | Mon, Jun 22, 2026 · 02:00 ET | g | – | Scheduled |
| Egypt vs IranEstadio Seattle | Sat, Jun 27, 2026 · 04:00 ET | g | – | Scheduled |
Frequently asked questions
Has Egypt ever won a World Cup match?+
Yes—twice. They beat Hungary 4-2 in 1934 and secured a 1-0 victory over Uruguay in 1990, but failed to advance both times.
Who are Egypt’s key players besides Salah?+
Defender Mohamed Abdelmonem (Al Ahly) anchors the backline, while Mostafa Mohamed’s 8 goals in 2023-24 qualifiers led the team. Midfielder Emam Ashour (Midtjylland) provides creative spark.
What’s Egypt’s best World Cup finish?+
Group stage exits in 1934, 1990, and 2018. Their 1934 debut remains their most competitive showing—they led Hungary 2-1 before collapsing late.
How many times have Egypt qualified for the World Cup?+
Four appearances: 1934, 1990, 2018, and now 2026. They’ve won the Africa Cup of Nations seven times but underperform globally.