Historic Night in Vancouver
After more than 90 years of waiting, Egypt finally have their first World Cup win. And it came, as so often, through the genius of Mohamed Salah. The Pharaohs came from behind to beat New Zealand 3-1 in Vancouver, with Salah scoring one and setting up another, to breathe life into their campaign and move to the brink of the knockout stages.
The victory was Egypt's first in the tournament after fruitless appearances in 1934, 1990, and 2018. A lethargic first half threatened to extend that barren run when Finn Surman headed New Zealand in front, but a transformed side after the break produced a display worthy of the occasion.
Key Moments: How Egypt Turned It Around
New Zealand started brightly and were rewarded inside 15 minutes. Surman was left completely unmarked at a corner and powered a header past Mostafa Shobeir, who had moments earlier denied Elijah Just. Egypt, disjointed and lacking urgency, offered little in response. Salah's most notable contribution of the first half was a free-kick that bent wide.
However, whatever head coach Hossam Hassan said at the interval worked. Egypt emerged with renewed intensity and soon penned the All Whites back. The equaliser came in the 58th minute when Mohamed Hany crossed for the unmarked Mostafa Zico to head home—mirroring the opener in its defensive frailty. Then, in the 67th minute, Salah came to life. A swift break saw him exchange passes with Zico before sweeping a clinical finish into the corner, the sort of goal he scored so often in the Premier League. It gave Egypt the lead for the first time, and they never looked back. In the 82nd minute, Salah delivered a wicked corner that substitute Trezeguet dived to head home, sealing the historic win.
Salah Delivers When It Matters Most
There was a time when Salah's World Cup credentials were questioned. Not any longer. The 34-year-old became the oldest Egyptian to score at a World Cup and, later, the oldest African player to both score and assist in a World Cup match. His record of either scoring or assisting in every World Cup game he has featured in—dating back to 2018 against Russia and Saudi Arabia—remains intact.
“He may not have hit the heights of years gone by during the 2025/26 season with Liverpool—what turned out to be his final campaign at Anfield—but Mohamed Salah is doing what he does best at this summer's World Cup,” Sky Sports’ Dan Long observed. “Once he had warmed up in Vancouver, he took the goal that put Egypt in front for the first time with ease. It was a familiar finish—and a historic one, too.”
In a tournament billed as the World Cup of the superstar, Salah emphatically proved he remains one of its brightest lights.
Key Takeaways
- Egypt secured their first-ever World Cup victory after previous failures in 1934, 1990, and 2018.
- Mohamed Salah was the catalyst, scoring one goal and assisting another to complete a 3-1 comeback.
- New Zealand started well but could not withstand Egypt’s second-half pressure and now face an uphill battle in Group G.
- Egypt move into a strong position to advance, with their fate in their own hands heading into the final group game.
- The result underlines Salah’s enduring quality on the biggest stage, setting multiple age-related records for Egypt and Africa.
Quick Facts
First World Cup win: Egypt recorded their maiden victory at the tournament after three previous appearances.
Salah's milestone: He became Egypt's oldest World Cup goalscorer (34 years) and the oldest African to both score and assist in a World Cup match.
Consistent threat: Salah has now scored or assisted in every World Cup game he has played (four matches spanning 2018 and 2026).
Goal times: New Zealand's lead lasted 43 minutes before Zico's equaliser; Egypt hit three second-half goals.
Group G context: The win puts Egypt in a commanding position to reach the knockout stages for the first time.