Belgium versus Egypt
- Kick-off:
- Stadium: Lumen Field · Seattle, United States
Belgium
Belgium arrive at their 14th tournament with the so-called golden generation now thinned but the squad still full of top-level talent. Domenico Tedesco, the German-Italian coach who took charge in 2023, has rebuilt around Kevin De Bruyne — likely his last major tournament — flanked by Jérémy Doku (Manchester City), Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta) and Romelu Lukaku, the all-time top scorer. The Euro 2024 round-of-16 exit to France was disappointing, and the defensive transition since Vincent Kompany's retirement remains unfinished. Group G with Egypt, Iran and New Zealand is favourable; first place is the floor. The window for a deep run with this core is closing — quarter-final or better is the brief.
Egypt
Egypt return after a 16-year absence, having last appeared in 2018. The Pharaohs qualified comfortably from CAF on the back of Mohamed Salah's prolonged peak — the Liverpool forward, now in his early thirties, remains the unquestioned focal point. Hossam Hassan, the legendary striker turned manager, took over in 2024 and has paired Salah with Trezeguet (Trabzonspor) and Mostafa Mohamed (Nantes) in a counter-attacking 4-2-3-1. Defensively the team relies on the discipline of Mohamed Hany and Ahmed Hegazy. Group G with Belgium, Iran and New Zealand offers a path to second place if Salah produces, but Egypt have lost six of their last seven group-stage appearances — breaking that pattern is the entire mission.
Lumen Field
Lumen Field hosts six matches in 2026, including round-of-32 fixtures, anchoring the tournament in the Pacific Northwest. Located in downtown Seattle, the venue opened in 2002 and is shared by the Seattle Seahawks NFL franchise and the Seattle Sounders MLS side — the latter consistently among the highest-attended clubs in MLS, with a deeply established football culture. Capacity for football is approximately 68,700. Lumen Field has been a natural-grass venue throughout its lifespan, requiring no conversion. Climate: Seattle summer is the most reliable in the United States — long daylight, temperatures of 18-24°C, and rain risk genuinely low during June-July despite the city's reputation. The Sounders' established supporter base will give the venue an authentic home-game atmosphere even for neutral matches.