Egypt Celebrates Historic FIFA World Cup Victory with Mohamed Salah's Heroics
Egypt's Landmark Win at the FIFA World Cup
In a momentous occasion for Egyptian football, Mohamed Salah joined fans in Vancouver as Egypt achieved their first-ever victory in FIFA World Cup history. The team triumphed over New Zealand with a score of 3-1 during their second match of the 2026 tournament on June 21 at BC Place Stadium. After initially falling behind, Egypt rallied to secure the win, placing them at the top of Group G with four points.
Footage circulating on social media captured Salah celebrating with supporters, showcasing his joy after the match. The Liverpool star not only netted the second goal but also provided an assist for the third, earning him the Player of the Match title.
Mo Salah dancing on the streets of Vancouver with fans, after he scores to help Egypt win their first ever World Cup gameIs right lad pic.twitter.com/PeYnhUCacE
— The Anfield Wrap (@TheAnfieldWrap) June 22, 2026
Finn Surman opened the scoring for New Zealand in the 15th minute, leading 1-0 at halftime. However, Mostafa Ziki equalized for Egypt in the 58th minute, followed by Salah's goal just nine minutes later. Trézéguet capped off the victory with a goal from a corner taken by Salah.
With this win, Egypt is now in a strong position to advance to the knockout stage for the first time, having previously drawn 1-1 against Belgium in their opening match. Their final group stage game is set against Iran on June 26 in Seattle.
Historically, Egypt had never won a World Cup match prior to this edition, marking only their fourth qualification for the tournament. In their debut in 1934, they lost to Uruguay in the Round of 16. In 1990, they drew with the Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland but lost to England. Their 2018 campaign ended with three defeats against Uruguay, Russia, and Saudi Arabia. Salah now holds the record for the most goals scored by an Egyptian in World Cup history, totaling three goals after scoring twice in 2018, along with an assist in their match against Belgium.