Egypt’s Mohamed Salah (10) celebrates his goal with teammate Mostafa Ziko (11) in the course of the World Cup Group G soccer match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, June 21, 2026. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Mohamed Salah scored the go-ahead goal and Egypt went on to defeat Latest Zealand 3-1 on Sunday night and secure its first-ever World Cup win.
Salah celebrated his 68th international goal by pumping his fist before he was mobbed by his teammates within the 67th minute, to the joys of the red-clad Pharaohs fans within the sellout crowd at BC Place Vancouver.
When Salah was subbed off within the eighty fifth minute he was treated to a standing ovation.
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Egypt moved to the highest of the standings in Group G with the win, but was not yet assured a spot within the knockout round. The Pharaohs will play a deciding game against Iran on Friday in Seattle, needing not less than a draw to advance.
Egypt is making its fourth World Cup appearance after missing the sphere in Qatar 4 years ago. Salah scored a pair of goals within the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Finn Surman put Latest Zealand in front within the fifteenth minute with a flying header off a corner kick delivered by Instagram sensation Tim Payne. It was the third international goal for the 6-foot-3 defender who plays for the Portland Timbers in MLS.
Omar Marmoush dropped a free kick off to Salah within the thirty fifth minute however it went just wide and bent into the side netting.
Egypt turned up the pressure coming out of the half and Mostafa Zico broke through with equalizer, finding space between Surman and Payne for a header that goalkeeper Max Crocombe got a hand on but couldn’t stop within the 58th minute. Zico celebrated by gesturing for the fans in the group to cheer.
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Salah took a back-heel pass from Zico for his goal, which puts him only one away from tying his coach Hossam Hassan for the national team’s all-time scoring lead. Trezeguet’s diving header wrapped up scoring for Egypt within the 82nd.
Egypt’s Hamdy Fathy was subbed off late in the primary half after an apparent injury away from the ball. He was replaced by Ramy Rabia.
Within the opener against Belgium, Emam Ashour scored the early goal for Egypt but then Romelu Lukaku subbed into the match and caused chaos within the box, leading to an own goal for a 1-1 draw.
Latest Zealand twice took the lead against Iran of their group opener, only to cede it for a 2-2 draw in the long run. Elijah Just scored each goals for the All Whites.
Latest Zealand previously appeared on the World Cup in 2010 and drew all three of its games.
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Iran and Belgium played to a scoreless draw earlier within the day in Inglewood, California, giving each teams two straight draws on the tournament. Latest Zealand returns to Vancouver on Friday to face Belgium.