On a sun-drenched evening in Vancouver, Mohamed Salah finally ended 92 years of hurt for Egyptian football. The Liverpool legend scored one goal and set up another as Egypt beat New Zealand 3-1 to secure their first-ever World Cup victory, at their ninth attempt. It was a moment that transformed the mood of a nation and capped a remarkable personal redemption for a player whose tournament history had been defined by injury, disappointment, and near-misses.
The win came in Egypt's second group game of the 2026 World Cup, played in Vancouver, Canada. After a goalless draw with Belgium in their opener, Egypt found themselves 1-0 down at half-time against New Zealand, a team ranked among the tournament's lowest. But a rousing second-half performance saw Mostafa Ziko equalise in the 58th minute, Salah score the go-ahead goal in the 67th, and substitute Trezeguet add a third from Salah's corner. Egypt now top Group G with four points and need only a draw against Iran to reach the last 32.
“Egypt's first World Cup victory, 92 years after their debut, explained.”
Egypt's long wait for a World Cup win dates back to their debut in 1934. They had played eight previous matches across three tournaments (1934, 1990, 2018) without ever tasting victory. For Salah, the 2018 campaign was particularly painful: he was rushed back from a shoulder injury, missed the opening defeat to Uruguay, scored a consolation penalty against Russia, and missed a sitter in a humiliating loss to Saudi Arabia. That failure led to a bitter dispute with the Egyptian FA, and the team failed to qualify for Qatar 2022. At 34, this tournament was widely seen as Salah's last chance to make his mark on the global stage.
The victory matters deeply for UK readers because Salah, who spent eight years at Liverpool, remains one of the most beloved players in Premier League history. His departure from Liverpool this summer after a difficult final season under Arne Slot has dominated transfer headlines, but this World Cup performance reminds fans of his enduring class. Salah is now one goal away from equalling Egypt's all-time scoring record of 69 goals, held by his current manager Hossam Hassan. Hassan, visibly emotional after the match, dedicated the win to the Egyptian people and appeared to take a subtle dig at previous coaches who he felt misused Salah.
Key questions answered
Q: Why had Egypt never won a World Cup match before 2026? Egypt's World Cup history was a story of near-misses. They debuted in 1934 and lost 4-2 to Hungary, then returned in 1990 and drew both group games but lost the third. In 2018, they lost all three matches in a group including Uruguay, Russia, and Saudi Arabia. A combination of tough draws, key injuries (especially to Salah in 2018), and organisational issues contributed to the drought.
Q: How did Mohamed Salah perform in the historic win? Salah had a quiet first half, mirroring his ineffectual display against Belgium. But in the second half he came alive: he played a one-two with Ziko before slotting home Egypt's second, then delivered the corner that Trezeguet headed in for the third. He was named man of the match and his goal moved him to within one of the national record.
Q: What does this result mean for Egypt's chances in the tournament? Egypt now top Group G with four points, ahead of Belgium (two points) and Iran (one point). They need at least a draw against Iran in their final group game to guarantee a place in the last 32. A win would see them finish top of the group. Their improved goal difference also gives them a buffer.
What happens next Egypt face Iran in their final group match, with kick-off scheduled for later this week. A point will be enough to progress. Beyond that, if they qualify, they will face a team from Group H in the round of 32. Salah's club future remains unresolved – he became a free agent after agreeing to terminate his Liverpool contract early – but he is expected to decide his next move after the World Cup.