Mohamed Salah scored one goal and assisted another as Egypt came from behind to beat New Zealand 3-1 and record their first World Cup victory.
The Pharaohs were winless when they appeared in the 1934, 1990 or 2018 editions of the tournament, and, based on a poor first-half performance, it looked like that streak would continue, especially after Finn Surman powered home the opener after a questionable corner.
Salah’s most important contribution in the first half was to plant a free-kick the wrong side of the left post from the edge of the area.
But it seems that after a tough talk with head coach Hossam Hassan at half-time, the former Liverpool man’s performance with his team-mates improved significantly afterwards.
Suddenly, their attack struggled, forcing New Zealand to stay deep – and just before the hour mark, in a similar position to Surman, the unmarked Mostafa Zico headed home Mohamed Hany’s cross.
Mostafa Zico equalized for Egypt just before the hour mark
Less than 10 minutes after the equaliser, after a fast break, Salah came to life as he exchanged passes with Zico, then swept home – in his trademark Premier League style – to give Egypt the lead for the first time in Vancouver.
And it was he who delivered a corner from the left that found substitute Trezeguet, who dived past Max Crocombe to put the icing on the cake and put the knockout stages within touching distance.
Important moments in Vancouver…
- 14: SAVE! Egypt goalkeeper, Mostafa Shobeir, made a save from his near post to deny Elijah Just.
- 15: GOAL! Finn Surman was left unmarked at the corner which led to New Zealand’s lead.
- 35: Omar Marmoush curls a free-kick towards Mohamed Salah, but the former Liverpool man curls it wide of the left post.
- 52: SAVE! Shobeir had to stay alert to tip Callum McCowatt’s header over the bar.
- 58: GOAL! Mohamed Hany picks out Mostafa Zico with a cross from the right and heads home unchallenged.
- 67: GOAL! Zico switches with Salah, who then sweeps home to put Egypt ahead for the first time.
- 82: GOAL! Salah picks out Trezeguet’s corner from the right, diving to plant it past Max Crocombe.
- 90+3: OPPORTUNITY! Substitute Zizo rounds Crocombe, but takes too long to shoot and his effort is blocked.
What does the result mean…
Analysis: Salah shines in the star’s World Cup
Salah has scored or assisted in all the World Cup matches he has played in
Sky Sports’ Dan Long:
He may not have reached the heights of previous years in the 2025/26 season with Liverpool – his final campaign at Anfield – but Mohamed Salah is at his best at this summer’s World Cup.
When he warmed up in Vancouver, he scored the goal that put Egypt first with ease. It was a familiar end – and history, too, as the 34-year-old became Egypt’s oldest World Cup goalscorer. Later, he also became the oldest African player to score and assist a goal in the World Cup.
By doing this, Salah continued his record of scoring or assisting in all the World Cup matches in which he played.
In 2018, he played against Russia and Saudi Arabia and scored in both games. Now, in 2026, he assisted Mohamed Hany’s goal against Belgium before his star role against New Zealand.
This summer’s edition is being called the World Cup of the best player – and after helping the Pharaohs reach the knockout stages, Salah is proving to be one of them.
