Egypt achieved its first-ever FIFA World Cup victory with a 3-1 win over New Zealand on Sunday in Vancouver, according to the Associated Press. Mohamed Salah scored the go-ahead goal in the 67th minute and registered an assist as the team rallied from a halftime deficit to lead Group G with four points. The result ends a winless streak in the competition that dated to the team’s first appearance in 1934, FIFA historical records show.
New Zealand went ahead in the 15th minute through a Finn Surman header from a set piece, the Associated Press reported. Egypt equalized in the 58th minute when Mostafa Zico converted following a corner from Salah. Salah then fired a left-footed shot from just inside the penalty area to give Egypt the lead before Trézéguet added a third goal in the 82nd minute to complete the scoring, ESPN match statistics indicated. Coach Hossam Hassan motivated his squad during the interval with a firm message that helped spark the second-half response.
“In between the first and the second half, we said it’s a no-go; we are not going to leave this pitch unless we claim the victory for ourselves, unless we make everyone proud and happy,” Hassan said. “I told them, I told the players, I am not willing to withdraw, I am not willing to go two steps back.” The halftime talk coincided with Egypt outshooting New Zealand significantly after the break. Salah was involved in 10 scoring chances during the match, the highest total of any player at the tournament to that stage, according to Opta data cited by ESPN.
Salah, who took his international goal tally to 68, reflected on the milestone result immediately afterward. “I always give my best to the national team,” Salah said. “Today I think is a very special day, with our first win in the World Cup.” Fans inside the stadium gave the forward a standing ovation as he and the coaching staff celebrated by waving the Egyptian flag on the pitch, the Associated Press reported. Similar scenes of jubilation erupted in Cairo, Al Jazeera noted in its coverage of nationwide reactions.
The win lifted Egypt to first place in Group G with four points from two matches, Reuters standings showed. New Zealand remained on one point after the defeat. Egypt will next face Iran on Friday in Seattle in a match that could determine which teams advance from the group, according to the tournament schedule. Both Salah and Zico recorded a goal and an assist apiece in the victory, BBC Sport detailed in its summary.
Egypt entered the 2026 tournament having qualified for the World Cup on eight occasions without registering a win, historical tournament records confirm. The 2018 campaign in Russia saw the team lose all three group games, previous FIFA reports stated. Sunday’s result has been widely hailed across Egyptian media as a long-awaited breakthrough for the national side. Reuters described Salah’s contribution as pivotal in overcoming an early setback against the New Zealand defense.
Associated Press footage from the match showed Egyptian supporters in the stands chanting throughout the second half as momentum shifted decisively. The victory came in the team’s second group fixture, setting up a high-stakes finale against Iran with advancement to the knockout rounds within reach. Trézéguet’s late goal provided insurance as Egypt maintained control until the final whistle, ESPN game analysis concluded.
