Egypt ended a 92 year wait for a FIFA World Cup victory on Sunday as Mohamed Salah produced a goal and an assist in a superb second half comeback that secured a 3-1 win over New Zealand at BC Place in Vancouver.
The Pharaohs entered the match still searching for their first ever World Cup win after drawing 1-1 with Belgium in their opening Group G fixture. New Zealand, who shared a 2-2 draw with Iran, looked set to spoil the party after an impressive first half display. However, Egypt responded brilliantly after the break to write a new chapter in their football history.
New Zealand started brightly and almost took an early advantage in the second minute. Callum McCowatt raced onto a long ball down the right and delivered a dangerous low cross that goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir spilled, although Egypt escaped without further punishment.
Five minutes later, Liberato Cacace surged forward from the left and found Elijah Just, whose curling effort flashed across the face of goal as he searched for a third goal of the tournament.
The pressure paid off in the 15th minute when New Zealand stunned Egypt with the opening goal. Tim Payne’s corner found MLS defender Finn Surman, who powered a towering header beyond Shobeir. Egypt’s marking left plenty to be desired as the world’s 85th ranked team moved ahead and briefly climbed to the top of the group standings.
New Zealand continued to threaten. In the 19th minute, McCowatt nearly doubled the lead after latching onto a loose ball, but Shobeir reacted quickly to block the effort at his near post.
Egypt finally showed signs of life in the 27th minute. Omar Marmoush led a quick counterattack before curling a powerful strike toward the far corner. Max Crocombe responded with an excellent save before gathering the rebound.
The Pharaohs pushed again before halftime. McCowatt’s costly mistake gifted Egypt a dangerous free kick after he fouled Emam Ashour on the edge of the area. Then, deep into stoppage time, Mostafa Zico delivered an inviting cross that sneaked past Finn Surman, but Ashour could only volley wide from close range.
At halftime, New Zealand held a deserved 1-0 lead and stood on the brink of a famous victory. Finn Surman’s header had the tournament’s lowest ranked team dreaming of a first World Cup win, while Egypt faced the prospect of extending their winless World Cup record to nine matches.
Egypt emerged from the dressing room with renewed energy. In the 52nd minute, McCowatt nearly added a second goal when his glancing header forced another excellent save from Shobeir.
The momentum soon shifted completely. Egypt increased the intensity and finally found their breakthrough in the 59th minute. Mohamed Hany delivered a superb cross from the right and Mostafa Zico, now operating more centrally, powered a header down the middle. Crocombe could not keep it out as Egypt drew level.
Eight minutes later, the turnaround was complete. Zico combined brilliantly with Salah in a slick one two move before cushioning the ball into the Liverpool star’s path. Salah then bent a powerful left footed finish into the net to spark wild celebrations among the Egyptian supporters.
New Zealand struggled to contain Egypt’s growing confidence and the decisive third goal arrived in the 82nd minute. Salah whipped in a dangerous corner and substitute Trezeguet escaped his marker to glance a header inside the post. The goal capped a remarkable spell that saw Egypt score three times in just 24 minutes.
The closing stages remained lively. In stoppage time, Zizo nearly added a fourth after rounding Crocombe, but the goalkeeper recovered to block his delayed effort. At the other end, Tyler Bindon almost gave New Zealand hope, only for Shobeir to produce a brilliant instinctive save from point blank range.
When the final whistle sounded, emotional scenes unfolded around the stadium. Egypt had finally done it. After 92 years and nine World Cup matches, the Pharaohs celebrated their first ever victory on football’s biggest stage.
Head coach Hossam Hassan sprinted down the touchline waving an Egyptian flag as players and staff embraced in jubilation. The second half transformation reflected the impact of his tactical changes, substitutions and team talk.
The victory sends Egypt to the top of Group G and puts them within touching distance of a historic first appearance in the World Cup knockout rounds. For New Zealand, disappointment followed a promising first half, but their spirited display showed why they remain capable of causing problems in their final group match.
Before kickoff, Egypt had never lost to New Zealand in three previous meetings, recording two wins and one draw. They also became only the second African nation since 1966 to score two headed goals in a single World Cup match, matching Ivory Coast’s achievement against Japan in 2014.
For Egypt, though, this night will be remembered for something far greater. After nine decades of waiting, the Pharaohs finally claimed their first World Cup victory and took a giant step toward making even more history in 2026.
