Some victories are worth waiting a century for.
Egypt has appeared at the World Cup three times before this year. They played matches across generations, travelled thousands of kilometres and carried the hopes of one of the most passionate football nations on Earth. Yet despite all that history, the Pharaohs had never won a single match at the tournament. Not in 1934. Not in 1990. Not in 2018.
On Sunday evening at BC Place, that finally changed.
Led by a second-half master class from Mohamed Salah, Egypt overturned an early deficit to defeat New Zealand 3–1 in front of a packed Vancouver crowd. Goals from Mostafa Zico, Salah and substitute Trézéguet secured Egypt's first-ever World Cup victory and transformed the outlook of Group G. The result was significant beyond Egypt’s three points.
Earlier in the day, Belgium and Iran played to a scoreless draw, meaning every team in the group entered the evening separated by only a single point. With New Zealand having drawn Iran 2–2 in their opening match, and Egypt having earned a 1–1 result against Belgium, Sunday's contest represented an opportunity for one side to seize control of an otherwise balanced group.
By the final whistle, Egypt was on top.
The atmosphere inside BC Place reflected the importance of the occasion. Although Vancouver sits thousands of kilometres from Cairo, most of the crowd was wearing red. Egyptian supporters dominated the noise before kickoff, waving flags, chanting, singing and roaring every time Salah touched the ball during warm-ups.
And why wouldn't they?
The former Liverpool star remains one of the greatest African footballers in history and the all-time top foreign striker in the Premier League. While Egypt's squad featured plenty of talent — including Zico and Mahmoud Hassan, better known as Trézéguet — most eyes naturally gravitated toward the man wearing No. 10. The expectation was clear. Egypt was supposed to be the better team.
Instead, New Zealand looked sharper from the opening whistle.
The All Whites entered the tournament with confidence after scoring two goals against Iran in their opening match, thanks to a brace from winger Elijah Just. Under head coach Darren Bazeley, they had demonstrated a willingness to attack and appeared determined to continue that approach against Egypt.
The Pharaohs created the first talking point six minutes into the match when Salah's shot from distance was blocked by Finn Surman. Despite there being little indication of any infringement, several Egyptian players appealed for a penalty before the referee waved play on. And as the opening minutes passed, Egypt struggled to establish any rhythm.
Their passing lacked urgency. Their movement appeared predictable. Too often, promising attacks ended before they truly began.
Meanwhile, New Zealand looked increasingly dangerous.
In the 14th minute, the All Whites transitioned quickly from defence to attack. Liberato Cacace drove forward before threading a clever pass through Egypt's back line to Just. Looking for his third goal of the tournament, the winger fired from a tight angle, but goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir reacted well to make the save.
The warning signs were there for Egypt. One minute later, New Zealand made them pay.
A corner kick swung into the penalty area found Surman completely unmarked. The towering centre-back barely needed to move. He rose above everyone else and powered a header beyond Shobeir to give New Zealand a stunning 1–0 lead.
The celebrations from the travelling Kiwi supporters could probably be heard across Vancouver — though most of the stadium was despondent. The swaths of Egyptian fans who had travelled to the West Coast to watch their team were staring down the possibility of another match without a win.
Suddenly, Egypt found themselves chasing the game. The frustration quickly began to show, with both teams receiving yellow cards less than five minutes after Surman's goal.
As the half progressed, Egypt slowly improved. They controlled possession. They looked calmer in midfield. They spent longer stretches inside New Zealand's half.
But possession alone does not guarantee opportunities.
The All Whites defended in a compact low block that prevented Salah and Egyptian forward Omar Marmoush from exploiting their pace behind the defence. Egypt circulated the ball around the penalty area but rarely found meaningful gaps to attack.
For long stretches, the match felt like a battle between potential and execution. Egypt possessed the more recognizable names, but New Zealand possessed the clearer game plan. Even when Egypt generated promising moments, they lacked the finishing touch.
Egypt’s best opportunity arrived deep into first-half stoppage time. Salah delivered an excellent cross into the penalty area where Emam Ashour had drifted away from his marker. Completely open beside the goal, the Egyptian winger somehow steered his effort wide of the far post — an impossible miss for a player of his calibre.
As the ball rolled harmlessly wide, thousands of Egyptian supporters threw their hands into the air in disbelief. Moments later, the halftime whistle arrived — and New Zealand led 1–0.
The statistics reflected a surprisingly even contest. Despite their stagnant start, Egypt had grown stronger as the half progressed. Both goalkeepers had been forced into important saves. Both teams looked capable of scoring another. But only one side had actually put one on the scoresheet.
If Egypt wanted their first World Cup victory, something needed to change.
Hossam Hassan clearly knew this, because whatever the Egyptian manager said inside the dressing room worked. The team that emerged for the second half barely resembled the one that had played the first. Suddenly, Egypt looked faster. Sharper. Hungrier.
The passing combinations arrived quicker. The movement became more fluid. New Zealand's defenders found themselves under increasing pressure with every passing minute.
In the 54th minute, Egypt nearly found an equalizer when Ahmed Fatouh combined brilliantly with Marmoush down the left wing before delivering a cross toward Zico. The forward connected cleanly with a volley, only for Surman to position himself perfectly and block the attempt. The Pharaohs were pressing, and this time, New Zealand could not ignore it.
Four minutes later, Egypt finally broke through. The defender Mohamed Hany delivered a precise cross into the penalty area, where Zico arrived at exactly the right moment. His header flew past goalkeeper Max Crocombe and into the back of the net.
BC Place erupted. The equalizer had been coming. Now it had arrived — and Egypt was not finished.
The momentum shifted entirely in their favour.
Every minute brought another attack. Every possession appeared more dangerous than the last. New Zealand, after looking so comfortable in the first half, suddenly seemed overwhelmed. They weren't able to keep up with the urgency that Egypt brought from halftime. The game was tied, but the Pharaohs wanted more than that.
In the 67th minute, Salah received possession near the edge of the penalty area and patiently waited for support. Rather than forcing a difficult shot, he combined with Zico in a clever one-two passing move before receiving the return ball inside the box.
The finish was vintage Salah. One touch. One glance. One perfectly placed shot underneath the diving goalkeeper. Goal. At 2–1, the stadium exploded.
Salah sprinted away in celebration as thousands of Egyptian supporters celebrated around him. The goal made him the first Egyptian player to score at multiple World Cups. More importantly, it gave Egypt the lead.
In little more than 20 minutes, they had become the team everyone had expected before kickoff. The contrast between halves was remarkable. The first-half hydration break had arrived shortly after New Zealand's opener, giving Egypt time to regroup while trailing. The second-half break arrived under entirely different circumstances. Now, it was New Zealand desperately searching for answers, while Egypt focused on protecting their advantage.
The All Whites attempted to push forward. Egypt simply kept attacking. They were determined not to give New Zealand enough time to make the match a draw.
The decisive moment arrived in the 82nd minute. Only six minutes after entering the match, Trézéguet delivered the final blow. Salah curled a corner kick toward the near post. Reading the delivery perfectly, Trézéguet darted into space and launched himself toward the ball. He made perfect contact, as his header flashed past Crocombe and into the net.
Now at 3–1, the All Whites looked defeated and the roar inside BC Place was deafening.
Egyptian supporters jumped from their seats. Players sprinted toward the corner flag. The pressure that had accumulated across decades of World Cup frustration disappeared in one explosive celebration. History was within reach.
New Zealand nearly conceded another goal during stoppage time when Egypt launched another dangerous attack. Zico found himself through on goal and appeared certain to score after rounding Crocombe, but the keeper was fast enough to stop it. The All Whites couldn’t turn back the momentum Egypt had accumulated in the back half of the match. It was over.
When the final whistle finally arrived, emotion immediately took over. Players embraced one another. Coaches celebrated on the touchline. Egyptian supporters remained standing long after the match had ended.
For the first time in World Cup history, Egypt had won.
The final score reflected the story of two very different halves. New Zealand executed their game plan brilliantly for 45 minutes. They defended compactly, struck first and frustrated one of Africa's most talented squads. For a while, they looked capable of earning another valuable point, or even three. Then Egypt remembered who they were.
Led by Salah's goal and assist, the Pharaohs produced a relentless second-half display that overwhelmed the All Whites and showcased the attacking quality many expected before the tournament began.
For Hassan, the victory represents a landmark achievement — becoming a hero for his country. For Salah, who received Player of the Game honours, it adds another chapter to an already legendary career. For Egyptian football, it removes a burden that had existed for nearly a century.
For New Zealand, only a win in their final group stage game against Belgium will be enough to avoid elimination. But Egypt — regardless of the result in their final group-stage match against Iran — is almost certain to advance to the knockout rounds, a historic achievement for a nation that has never before survived the group stage of a World Cup.
The Pharaohs had waited 92 years for a World Cup victory. On Sunday night in Vancouver, they finally got one, and judging by the celebrations inside BC Place, the wait was worth it.
