Belgium
Egypt
In what could prove the defining fixture of Group G, Belgium take on Egypt at Lumen Field in Seattle — a match that carries far more significance than a typical opening-round encounter. Belgium are the highest-ranked side in the group and carry the weight of a generation that has consistently promised more than it has delivered. Egypt arrive with the most dangerous player on either team sheet and a historical head-to-head record against the Red Devils that makes for uncomfortable reading in the Belgium camp. This is not the straightforward opener it might appear on paper.
Belgium — Les Diables Rouges
Rudi Garcia sets up in a 4-2-3-1, with the talismanic Thibaut Courtois back between the sticks after his long injury recovery — his presence alone gives Belgium a significant upgrade in goal. The back four of Cuyper, Theate, Ngoy and Meunier is solid without being spectacular, while the double pivot of Amadou Onana and Youri Tielemans provides a reliable engine in the middle. Onana brings the physicality and pressing intensity, Tielemans — coming off an excellent campaign at Aston Villa — provides the technical quality and range of passing.
The real quality lies in the attacking positions. Kevin De Bruyne, operating as the central attacking midfielder, remains one of the most creative players in world football at 34 despite a mixed season at Napoli — his vision, range of passing and ability to find a killer ball from deep are unmatched in this squad. Flanking him, Jérémy Doku provides electric pace and directness on the left while Leandro Trossard offers quality and movement on the right. Charles De Ketelaere leads the line as the lone striker — his excellent season at Atalanta, including Champions League involvement, has made him the preferred option over Loïs Openda.
Belgium's recent World Cup record is a source of genuine frustration. Ranked among the favourites for three consecutive tournaments, they have never reached a final, and their 2022 exit — failing to score against either Croatia or Morocco — was particularly painful. Garcia has since overseen a more disciplined and balanced structure, winning three of four warm-up friendlies including victories over the USA, Croatia and Tunisia, keeping clean sheets in the last two. The tension between individual quality and collective underperformance has followed this generation throughout — this may be their last chance to resolve it.
Egypt — The Pharaohs
Hossam Hassan's side line up in a compact 5-2-1-2, with Shenawy in goal behind a back five of Fatouh, Rabia, Abdelmaguid, Ibrahim and Hany. The double pivot of Attia and Fathy sits in front of the defence, with Ashour operating as the link between midfield and attack. Up front, the partnership of Omar Marmoush and Mohamed Salah is as dangerous a two-man combination as Egypt have ever fielded.
And let's talk about Salah. At 34 and coming off what many consider the finest individual season of his career — 37 goals and 20 assists for Liverpool across all competitions, culminating in the Premier League title — he arrives at his first World Cup in the form of his life. He has never played at a World Cup before: Egypt missed out in 2022 and he was injured throughout 2018. This tournament represents the crowning chapter of one of the great careers in modern football, and the hunger to perform on the biggest stage is unmistakeable. Belgium's defence will know they are facing the most dangerous player at this entire World Cup, and they have no comfortable answer to him.
Marmoush alongside him is far from a passenger either — 26 goals and 12 assists for Manchester City this season make him one of the most in-form strikers heading into this tournament. Egypt's front two is, on their day, capable of scoring against anyone. The question is whether the 5-2-1-2 provides enough of a platform to protect against Belgium's width and creativity while giving those two the service they need.
Egypt have beaten Belgium in three of their four previous meetings — including a 2-1 win as recently as November 2022. They will not be intimidated. Hassan has navigated the side to an unbeaten qualifying campaign, topping their CAF group with 26 points from 10 matches. They are not here as passengers.
Predicted Lineups
Key Battle
Mohamed Salah vs Wout Faes and the Belgium back four. Salah will drift wide right and look to cut inside onto his left foot — the most predictable movement in world football and still the hardest to stop. Belgium's left-sided defensive pairing of Cuyper and Theate will be well aware that this is where the danger comes from. If Cuyper pushes high — as he tends to — he leaves the space for Salah to exploit in behind. If he sits deep, Belgium lose one of their attacking outlets. It is a genuine tactical dilemma, and whoever wins this battle will likely determine the outcome of the match.
Prediction
This is the most genuinely unpredictable match of today's programme. Egypt's head-to-head record, the form of Salah and Marmoush, and the cautious structure Hassan has built all point toward a competitive match. But Belgium's attacking quality — De Bruyne pulling strings, Doku running at defences, De Ketelaere leading the line — is simply too rich for Egypt to suppress for ninety minutes. Courtois in goal is also a huge presence that Egypt will struggle to beat.
Belgium should win, but Salah will get his goal. He always does.
Belgium 3–1 Egypt — De Ketelaere, De Bruyne, Doku — Salah
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