Egypt beat New Zealand 3-1 in the 2026 World Cup after a second-half comeback led by Mohamed Salah, a result that pushes the Pharaohs close to the knockout stage.
Egypt secured a 3-1 win over New Zealand in the 2026 World Cup, with a strong second-half turnaround that placed Hossam Hassan’s team top of Group G and on the brink of qualification.
New Zealand Strike First in Strong Start
New Zealand opened the game with intensity and took the lead in the 15th minute. Finn Surman headed in Tim Payne’s well-delivered corner to silence the Egyptian side early.
Meanwhile, the All Whites looked confident and pushed for a second goal. However, Egypt absorbed the pressure and stayed in the contest despite the early setback.
New Zealand had already shown a pattern of wasted leads after dropping points in their opening draw against Iran.
Egypt Respond After Tactical Shift
Egypt improved sharply after the break following adjustments from coach Hossam Hassan. The team increased tempo and pressed higher up the pitch.
Furthermore, the pressure paid off in the 58th minute when Mostafa Zico levelled the score. He headed in Mohamed Hany’s cross to bring Egypt back into the game.
Salah Leads the Turnaround
However, the momentum shifted quickly. Mohamed Salah combined neatly with Zico inside the box. He finished the move with a low strike into the bottom corner to put Egypt ahead.
Meanwhile, Salah controlled the rhythm of Egypt’s attack and stretched New Zealand’s defence. His influence shaped the entire second-half performance.
Furthermore, Salah delivered a corner in the 82nd minute. Substitute Trezeguet headed it in to seal Egypt’s third goal and complete the comeback.
Knockout Push and Group G Outlook
Consequently, Egypt moved to the top of Group G. They will qualify for the knockout stage for the first time in their history if results hold.
Furthermore, this win marks Egypt’s first World Cup victory in four appearances since their debut in 1934 under Hossam Hassan’s leadership.
However, New Zealand’s wait for a first World Cup win continues. They now face Belgium in their final group match and must win to stay in contention.
