The two heavyweights of Group G lock horns immediately in their World Cup 2026 opening match as Kevin De Bruyne’s Belgium take on Mohamed Salah’s Egypt in Seattle Stadium on Monday.
There is far more to each side than just those two talismanic figures, of course, but whichever veteran star performs the best on the day will go a long way to deciding the final result.
A Belgian victory would establish their expected dominance in the group from the off. For Egypt, the stakes are considerably higher — a draw or win would transform their prospects of reaching the knockout stages, something no Egyptian side has achieved in their three previous appearances at the World Cup (1934, 1990, and 2018)
Belgium’s Blueprint
De Bruyne has a superior supporting cast than Salah, with the remnants of Belgium’s ‘Golden Generation’ — which held the No.1 spot in the FIFA World Rankings for four consecutive years from 2018 to 2022 — sprinkled through the spine of the team.
Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois, now 34, remains one of the world’s premier goalkeepers. De Bruyne, also 34, is still the creative heartbeat of the side. And Romelu Lukaku, Belgium’s all-time leading scorer with 90 goals, looks to have won his fitness race after a hamstring scare.
But it is the younger generation that could prove decisive. Manchester winger Jeremy Doku possesses the quick feet and blistering pace to potentially outshine even De Bruyne at this tournament.
Atalanta’s Charles De Ketelaere, who scored two goals and three assists in qualifying, will lighten the load on Lukaku and is likely to start if the veteran striker is used sparingly.
In defence, classy young centre-back Nathan Ngoy is one to watch, as is 21-year-old Matias Fernandez-Pardo of Lille — a forward who holds a Spanish passport but finally declared for Belgium in May.
Head coach Rudi Garcia’s biggest puzzle: how to integrate these rising stars with the remnants of the Golden Generation. It remains largely unsolved heading into the tournament.
Egypt’s Gamble
Egypt’s head coach Hossam Hassan faces a similar dilemma, attempting to build for the future while still relying on proven talent. Salah will be flanked by a core of experience: Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush, Al Ahly’s Trezeguet, and Nice’s defensive rock Mohamed Abdelmonem.
But Hassan has made ruthless calls. The biggest shock is Mostafa Mohamed’s omission. Once heir apparent to Egypt’s strike force, he was axed after a disastrous spell at Nantes where he managed just four goals before the club’s Ligue 1 relegation.
In his place, Hassan has turned to the future. His squad features five fresh faces, headlined by the real jewel of the youth system: Hamza Abdelkareem. Currently on loan at Barcelona B, the teenage forward is regarded as a serious prospect. If Salah is the sun around which this team orbits, Abdelkareem is the rising star — expect him to provide a spark as a super-sub when Egypt needs fresh energy.
The Tactical Battle
Belgium’s strength lies in attack. Garcia’s side racked up 29 goals in just eight qualifying games, topping their group comfortably. Defence, however, remains a work in progress, so expect the Red Devils on the front foot.
Egypt will be tactically more rigid — a solid back line and midfield with stardust provided by the front three: Trezeguet, Marmoush and especially Salah, who scored nine of Egypt’s 20 qualifying goals as they finished five points clear atop Group A.
Possible Belgium Starting XI
Possible Egypt Starting XI
Match Details
June 15 – Belgium vs. Egypt – Seattle, 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT
