Mohamed Salah finally enjoyed his long-awaited World Cup moment as Egypt recorded their first-ever victory at football’s biggest tournament, while debutants Cape Verde continued their fairy-tale run and Spain rediscovered their swagger with a commanding win over Saudi Arabia.
The Egyptian captain inspired the Pharaohs to a 3-1 comeback victory over New Zealand, ending a run of eight previous World Cup matches without a win and moving his country to the brink of qualification for the round of 32.
Egypt had fallen behind to a surprise early goal from the Kiwis and struggled to find their rhythm, with Salah once again enduring a subdued opening period after an underwhelming display in the draw against Belgium.
But the 34-year-old turned the game around in the second half, scoring in the 67th minute to put Egypt ahead before delivering the corner that Mahmoud Hassan “Trezeguet” converted to wrap up a famous triumph. The victory leaves the Pharaohs needing only a point against Iran in their final group match to book a place in the knockout stages.
After the disappointment of Russia 2018 and missing out on Qatar 2022, Egypt’s greatest player finally etched his name into World Cup history, joining the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane among the stars who have lit up the tournament.
Another African side making headlines is Cape Verde, whose remarkable debut campaign continues to capture the imagination. Having already shocked the football world by holding Spain to a draw in their opening match, the Blue Sharks produced another impressive display to secure a thrilling 2-2 draw against two-time champions Uruguay.
The island nation, with a population of fewer than 525,000 people, matched one of football’s traditional powerhouses and now stand on the verge of an extraordinary place in the knockout rounds. Their blend of attacking flair and defensive discipline once again underlined why they have become one of the tournament’s surprise packages.
In Group G, Belgium’s hopes of avoiding another early exit suffered a setback after a frustrating goalless draw with Iran in Los Angeles. Despite the return of Romelu Lukaku to the starting line-up, the Red Devils failed to break down a determined Iranian side inspired by goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand.
Belgium’s problems were compounded by the dismissal of young defender Nathan Ngoy, leaving the 2018 semi-finalists facing a must-win encounter against New Zealand. Another slip-up could condemn them to a second consecutive group-stage elimination.
Meanwhile, Spain responded emphatically to their disappointing stalemate against Cape Verde by thrashing Saudi Arabia 4-0, with teenage sensation Lamine Yamal stealing the show.
Making his first World Cup start after recovering from a hamstring injury, the 18-year-old electrified the crowd in Atlanta and transformed Spain’s attack with his pace and creativity. With supporters chanting his name even before kick-off, Yamal delivered on the hype as Luis de la Fuente’s side produced a vibrant and convincing performance.
