Egypt and Iran strengthened their chances of advancing to the Round of 32 after both teams earned valuable points in their second Group G matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Egypt, who faced New Zealand, secured all three points with a 3-1 victory in a match played at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, Canada, on Monday, June 22, 2026.
The Pharaohs claimed their first win of the tournament through goals from Mostafa Ziko in the 58th minute, Mohamed Salah in the 67th minute, and Trezeguet in the 82nd minute. New Zealand’s lone goal was scored by Finn Surman in the 15th minute.
In the other Group G match, Iran came close to securing victory against Belgium at Los Angeles Stadium. However, Mehdi Taremi’s goal in the 25th minute was disallowed after a VAR review, and the match eventually ended in a goalless draw.
The result lifted Egypt to the top of the Group G standings with four points from one win and one draw. Iran sit in second place with two points from two draws. Belgium are third, also with two points, while New Zealand remain at the bottom of the table with one point.
Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan revealed that during halftime against New Zealand, he told his players they should not return to the pitch unless they were fully determined to win the match.
His strong words produced the desired response as Egypt recovered from a one-goal deficit to secure a 3-1 victory and record their first-ever World Cup win.
Hassan had been under pressure to deliver Egypt’s first victory at the tournament, as the nation had previously recorded five defeats and two draws across their World Cup appearances in 1934, 1990, and 2018.
He also praised Mohamed Salah’s performance, noting that the Liverpool star transformed Egypt’s style of play in the second half.
Salah, who scored a goal and provided an assist, brought greater urgency and fluidity to Egypt’s attacking play after the break.
“Salah works hard on the pitch, and that is something people should know. Perhaps I am the first coach to allow him to play in a position that maximizes his threat and fully suits his abilities and qualities. We have worked on many things, and I am confident we will see even more from him,” Hassan said.
Unfortunate Result for Iran
Meanwhile, Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei insisted that his team were unfortunate not to beat Belgium, especially after the Europeans were reduced to ten men in the 67th minute.
Nathan Ngoy received a red card after fouling Mehdi Taremi, who had capitalized on a defensive error and was through on goal against Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
“I think it was a very entertaining match. Both teams deserved to win. Either side could have taken all three points. I would like to sincerely thank every player, especially Ali Beiranvand (Iran’s goalkeeper),” he said.***
