Belgium and Egypt Starting Lineups
Belgium: Courtois; Meunier, Mechele, Ngoy, Castagne; Tielemans, De Bruyne, Onana; Trossard, De Ketelaere, Doku.
Egypt: Shobeir; Hany, Fathi, Ibrahim, Fattouh; Lasheen, Attia; Salah, Zico, Ashour; Marmoush.
Full Time: Spain 0-0 Cape Verde
The match between Spain and Cape Verde ended in a goalless draw, 0-0. This result stands out as one of the most remarkable scoreless draws in this year's World Cup and could be considered historically significant.
Belgium Team Guide
The head coach of Belgium, Rudi Garcia, recognizes that the team's primary strength is in their attacking capabilities. Key players such as Kevin De Bruyne, Jérémy Doku, and Romelu Lukaku each bring unique qualities that can influence the game. However, the defensive line is considered a vulnerability, especially following the gradual retirement of the golden generation that included Toby Alderweireld, Vincent Kompany, Thomas Vermaelen, and Jan Vertonghen. The only exception in defense is goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
"That is why I will always choose four defenders and not five," Garcia explains. "With five defenders I have to sacrifice an attacking player and that would be a shame."
Garcia typically employs a medium defensive block to support offensive play while minimizing pressure on the defenders. Despite this strategy, there is a notable concern regarding Romelu Lukaku. He has played only 64 minutes for Napoli this season and has not appeared for the national team due to injuries until recently. Lukaku came off the bench in Belgium's 2-0 victory over Croatia on Tuesday night, scoring the second goal during added time. Additionally, he has been personally affected by the passing of his father. As Belgium's all-time top scorer with 90 goals, Lukaku will begin the World Cup without optimal match fitness.
Group G also includes Iran and New Zealand, who are scheduled to face each other in the final match of the day.
Match Preview and Context
Welcome to live, minute-by-minute coverage of the Belgium versus Egypt match at Seattle Stadium. The 2026 World Cup is progressing rapidly, with 32 of the 48 teams having already competed by tomorrow morning.
Throughout the tournament so far, we have witnessed a range of performances from potential champions to teams likely to exit early. It remains uncertain where Belgium and Egypt stand within this spectrum. Both teams are navigating transitions following their golden generations, which have diminished in prominence but still maintain competitive squads capable of impacting the tournament.
This compelling encounter is expected to provide insight into the potential influence these teams may exert during the competition.
The kickoff is scheduled for 5 pm local time, 8 pm BST, 3 pm EDT, and 5 am AEST.
