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Belgium and Egypt play to 1-1 draw in World Cup opener

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 16, 2026, 1:50 PM

Last updated Jun 16, 2026

Belgium and Egypt play to 1-1 draw in World Cup opener

Summary

Belgium faced Egypt in their World Cup debut on June 15, 2026, finishing in a 1-1 draw. Romelu Lukaku, who started on the bench, made a significant impact after being substituted on in the 65th minute, contributing to an own goal by Mohamed Hany just 28 seconds later. Kevin De Bruyne highlighted Lukaku's vital presence, while coach Rudi Garcia noted that Lukaku is not yet ready to start due to limited playing time with Napoli. Despite the draw, Belgium displayed a stronger performance in the second half, suggesting potential for future matches in the tournament.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

Status Watch

•Belgium and Egypt drew 1-1 in their World Cup opener
•Romelu Lukaku assisted on an own goal soon after entering
•Kevin De Bruyne praised Lukaku's impact on the game
•Rudi Garcia stated Lukaku is not ready to start matches
•Belgium played poorly in the first half but improved after halftime

Latest Updates

1:50 PMYahoo Sports — World Cup: Rudi Garcia and De Bruyne react as ‘vital’ Lukaku inspires Belgium draw

What they're saying

"
Kevin De Bruyne admits Romelu Lukaku was ‘vital’ for Belgium in a 1-1 draw against Egypt in their World Cup debut, but Rudi Garcia insists that the Napoli striker is ‘still not ready’ to start...
— Yahoo Sports

Related Teams & Leagues

Napoli FIFA World Cup Soccer