Mohamed Salah and Kevin De Bruyne, two greats of the past Premier League decade, begin their World Cup campaigns facing off against one another.
Belgium takes on Egypt in Seattle in a match where the winner will be firm favorites to claim top spot in Group G.
Salah scored in both of his appearances at the 2018 World Cup, but Egypt bowed out at the group stage in Russia, with their star man still hampered by the shoulder injury he sustained during Liverpool’s Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid.
De Bruyne and Belgium finished third in 2018 but fell at the first hurdle in Qatar four years later. The Napoli playmaker is one of a handful of survivors from the Red Devils’ so-called golden generation.
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Belgium projected starting 11
(4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. T. Courtois (GK) — 15. T. Meunier, 25. N. Ngoy, 4. B. Mechele, 5. M. De Cuyper — 8. Y.Tielemans, 24. A. Onana — 10. L. Trossard. 7. K De Bruyne, 11. J. Doku — 17. C. De Ketelaere
- Injured: None
- Suspended: None
Jeremy Doku left training with breathing difficulties earlier in the week but has since returned, showing no adverse effects.
Belgium’s all-time leading goalscorer Romelu Lukaku is in the squad despite a lack of football this season but Charles De Ketelaere is likely to lead the attack, supported by Kevin De Bruyne.
MORE: World Cup 2026 standings: Live updated table, points for every group in FIFA tournament
Egypt projected starting 11
(4-2-3-1, right to left): 23. M. Shobeir (GK) — 3. M. Hany, 2. Y. Ibrahim, 14. H. Fathy, 13. A. Fatouh — 17. M. Lasheen, 19. M. Attia — 10. M. Salah, 8. E. Ashour, 7. Trezeguet — 22. O. Marmoush
- Injured: None / I. Surname (injury description)
- Suspended: None / I. Surname (length of ban)
Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan remains his country’s all-time leading goalscorer
MORE: USMNT handed positive update on Christian Pulisic
Belgium vs. Egypt World Cup rosters
Here are the names on Belgium and Egypt’s World Cup rosters. All caps and stats are correct as of the date of their announcement in May 2026.
Belgium World Cup roster
| Position | No. | Player | Club | Age | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | 1 | Thibaut Courtois | Real Madrid (La Liga, Spain) | 34 | 107 |
| GK | 12 | Senne Lammens | Manchester United (Premier League, England) | 23 | 2 |
| GK | 13 | Mike Penders | Chelsea (Premier League, England) | 20 | 0 |
| DEF | 21 | Timothy Castagne | Fulham (Premier League, England) | 30 | 62 |
| DEF | 2 | Zeno Debast | Sporting CP (Primeira Liga, Portugal) | 22 | 26 |
| DEF | 5 | Maxim De Cuyper | Brighton (Premier League, England) | 25 | 17 |
| DEF | 16 | Koni De Winter | AC Milan (Serie A, Italy) | 23 | 7 |
| DEF | 4 | Brandon Mechele | Club Brugge (Pro League, Belgium) | 33 | 7 |
| DEF | 15 | Thomas Meunier | Lille (Ligue 1, France) | 34 | 78 |
| DEF | 25 | Nathan Ngoy | Lille (Ligue 1, France) | 22 | 2 |
| DEF | 18 | Joaquin Seys | Club Brugge (Pro League, Belgium) | 21 | 4 |
| DEF | 3 | Arthur Theate | Eintracht Frankfurt (Bundesliga, Germany) | 25 | 32 |
| MID | 7 | Kevin De Bruyne | Napoli (Serie A, Italy) | 34 | 117 |
| MID | 24 | Amadou Onana | Aston Villa (Premier League, England) | 24 | 27 |
| MID | 23 | Nicolas Raskin | Rangers (Premiership, Scotland) | 25 | 11 |
| MID | 8 | Youri Tielemans | Aston Villa (Premier League, England) | 29 | 83 |
| MID | 20 | Hans Vanaken | Club Brugge (Pro League, Belgium) | 33 | 32 |
| MID | 6 | Axel Witsel | Girona (Segunda Division, Spain) | 37 | 136 |
| FWD | 17 | Charles De Ketelaere | Atalanta (Serie A, Italy) | 25 | 28 |
| FWD | 11 | Jeremy Doku | Manchester City (Premier League, England) | 23 | 41 |
| FWD | 26 | Matias Fernandez-Pardo | Lille (Ligue 1, France) | 21 | 0 |
| FWD | 9 | Romelu Lukaku | Napoli (Serie A, Italy) | 33 | 124 |
| FWD | 14 | Dodi Lukebakio | Benfica (Primeira Liga, Portugal) | 28 | 29 |
| FWD | 19 | Diego Moreira | Strasbourg (Ligue 1, France) | 21 | 2 |
| FWD | 22 | Alexis Saelemaekers | AC Milan (Serie A, Italy) | 26 | 23 |
| FWD | 10 | Leandro Trossard | Arsenal (Premier League, England) | 31 | 50 |
Egypt World Cup squad
| Position | No. | Player | Club | Age | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | 26 | Mohamed Alaa | El Gouna (Premier League, Egypt) | 27 | 0 |
| GK | 1 | Mohamed El Shenawy | Al Ahly (Premier League, Egypt) | 37 | 76 |
| GK | 23 | Mostafa Shobeir | Al Ahly (Premier League, Egypt) | 26 | 8 |
| GK | 16 | El Mahdy Soliman | Zamalek (Premier League, Egypt) | 38 | 0 |
| DEF | 4 | Hossam Abdelmaguid | Zamalek (Premier League, Egypt) | 25 | 13 |
| DEF | 6 | Mohamed Abdelmonem | Nice (Ligue 1, France) | 27 | 35 |
| DEF | 24 | Tarek Alaa | ZED (Premier League, Egypt) | 24 | 2 |
| DEF | 13 | Ahmed Fatouh | Zamalek (Premier League, Egypt) | 28 | 38 |
| DEF | 15 | Karim Hafez | Pyramids (Premier League, Egypt) | 30 | 8 |
| DEF | 3 | Mohamed Hany | Al Ahly (Premier League, Egypt) | 30 | 41 |
| DEF | 2 | Yasser Ibrahim | Al Ahly (Premier League, Egypt) | 33 | 16 |
| DEF | 5 | Ramy Rabia | Al Ain (Pro League, UAE) | 33 | 44 |
| MID | 8 | Emam Ashour | Al Ahly (Premier League, Egypt) | 28 | 28 |
| MID | 19 | Marwan Attia | Al Ahly (Premier League, Egypt) | 27 | 33 |
| MID | 18 | Nabil Emad | Al Najma (Pro League, Saudi Arabia) | 30 | 12 |
| MID | 14 | Hamdy Fathy | Al Wakrah (Stars League, Qatar) | 31 | 62 |
| MID | 17 | Mohanad Lasheen | Pyramids (Premier League, Egypt) | 30 | 22 |
| MID | 21 | Mahmoud Saber | ZED (Premier League, Egypt) | 24 | 15 |
| MID | 11 | Mostafa Ziko | Pyramids (Premier League, Egypt) | 29 | 1 |
| FWD | 9 | Hamza Abdelkarim | Barcelona B (Segunda Federacion, Spain) | 18 | 1 |
| FWD | 20 | Ibrahim Adel | Nordsjaelland (Superliga, Denmark) | 25 | 23 |
| FWD | 12 | Haissem Hassan | Real Ovideo (Segunda Division, Spain) | 24 | 3 |
| FWD | 22 | Omar Marmoush | Man City (Premier League, England) | 27 | 48 |
| FWD | 10 | Mohamed Salah | Liverpool (Premier League, England) | 33 | 115 |
| FWD | 7 | Trezeguet | Al Ahly (Premier League, Egypt) | 31 | 95 |
| FWD | 25 | Zizo | Al Ahly (Premier League, Egypt) | 30 | 62 |
Belgium vs. Egypt predictions, betting odds
DraftKings has Belgium as -170 favorites to get the win. Egypt, with the threat of Salah and Marmoush, are an attractive +475. The draw is priced +295.
Where to watch Belgium vs. Egypt
- TV channel: Fox
- Live stream: fubo, Fox One, Fox Sports app/website
This match will be broadcast nationally on Fox in the United States with streaming options available on its dedicated platforms.
The best place to catch the match is on streaming service fubo, with new customers able to sign up a for a FREE trial.
Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)