2026 World Cup: Egypt clinches the first victory in its history

Egypt turned a new page in its football history in the early hours of Monday, securing its very first win at a World Cup finals. The Pharaohs triumphed 3-1 over New Zealand on matchday two in Group G.

Yet, the match got off to a rocky start for the Egyptian side. The New Zealanders struck first in the 15th minute thanks to Surman, who headed home to open the scoring. Despite several attempts, Egypt went into the break trailing by a goal.

After halftime, the Pharaohs returned with renewed energy. Ziko leveled the score in the 58th minute, then turned provider nine minutes later, setting up Mohamed Salah to put Egypt ahead. Trezeguet sealed the win in the 82nd minute, capitalizing on a well-worked corner.

This victory puts Egypt alone at the top of Group G with four points. The Pharaohs now edge closer to a historic qualification for the round of 16 ahead of their final group match against Iran.

For New Zealand, the situation is becoming precarious. With just one point from two matches, the Kiwis sit at the bottom of the group and will need a major upset in their last outing to keep their World Cup hopes alive.

Beyond the three points, this win marks a truly historic moment for Egyptian football. As the first African nation ever to play in the World Cup and after several appearances without a single win, Egypt has finally shattered that glass ceiling and sent a strong message to their future opponents.

Nouya M'toama

Editorfr, en

Versatile journalist specializing in sports and political news, with extensive experience across radio, print and digital media platforms.