Mohamed Salah produced a masterclass in the second half to lead Egypt to a historic 3-1 victory over New Zealand in the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Monday. The 34-year-old winger scored one goal and assisted another as the Pharaohs overturned a halftime deficit to secure their first-ever World Cup win on foreign soil.
First half: New Zealand takes the lead
The first half was a tightly contested affair, with both sides struggling to create clear-cut chances. New Zealand, making their second World Cup appearance, took the lead against the run of play in the 38th minute. A defensive lapse from Egypt allowed New Zealand striker Chris Wood to pounce on a loose ball inside the box and slot it past goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy.
Egypt, who had dominated possession, found themselves trailing at the break despite having several half-chances. Salah was largely kept quiet by the New Zealand defense, which double-teamed him whenever he received the ball on the right flank.
Second half: Salah takes over
Egypt came out with renewed energy after the interval, and it took just five minutes for them to equalize. A swift counter-attack saw Salah pick up the ball on the right, cut inside, and unleash a powerful left-footed strike that beat New Zealand goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic at his near post. The goal was Salah's 60th for Egypt and sparked wild celebrations among the Egyptian fans.
Buoyed by the equalizer, Egypt continued to press forward. In the 63rd minute, Salah turned provider, delivering a pinpoint cross from the right flank that found the head of striker Mostafa Mohamed, who powered the ball into the net to give Egypt a 2-1 lead. The assist was Salah's third of the tournament, highlighting his importance to the team.
Egypt seals historic win
New Zealand pushed for an equalizer but left themselves exposed at the back. Egypt sealed the victory in the 81st minute when substitute Mahmoud Trezeguet capitalized on a defensive error to slot home from close range, making it 3-1. The goal was confirmed after a VAR check for offside, much to the relief of the Egyptian bench.
Egypt coach Rui Vitoria praised his team's resilience after the match. "We knew it would be a tough game, but the players showed great character to come from behind. Mohamed Salah is a world-class player, and he proved that again today," Vitoria said. "This win is for all Egyptians. It's a historic moment for our football."
Impact on Group D standings
The victory puts Egypt level on three points with group leaders Portugal, who earlier defeated Saudi Arabia 2-0. New Zealand and Saudi Arabia are yet to open their account. Egypt's next match is against Saudi Arabia, while New Zealand faces Portugal. A win for Egypt in their next game would virtually secure their place in the knockout stages for the first time since 1990.
New Zealand coach Danny Hay acknowledged his team's second-half struggles. "We had a good first half, but we couldn't handle Egypt's intensity after the break. Salah is a special player, and he made the difference," Hay said. "We need to learn from this and bounce back against Portugal."
Historic milestone for Egyptian football
This win marks Egypt's first World Cup victory outside Africa, having previously won matches only on home soil in 1990 and 2018. The team's performance has been hailed as a sign of progress for African football, with Salah leading the charge. The Liverpool legend, who has been a key figure for Egypt for over a decade, showed he still possesses the ability to decide big games on the world stage.
With 60 goals in 95 appearances, Salah remains Egypt's all-time leading scorer and their talisman in this tournament. His display against New Zealand will give Egypt confidence as they aim to advance deep into the competition.
