Twenty-three seconds. That is how long Romelu Lukaku needed on the pitch to change this match, and he did not even touch the ball.
Belgium drew 1-1 with Egypt at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington, on June 16, 2026, in their Group G opener at the World Cup. Emam Ashour put Egypt ahead in the 20th minute, and Mohamed Hany turned the ball into his own net under pressure from substitute Lukaku in the 66th, with both sides finishing close on expected goals.
Final score 1-1. Ashour scored for Egypt in the 20th minute, assisted by Mohamed Salah. Hany’s own goal leveled things for Belgium in the 66th minute, arriving just 23 seconds after Lukaku entered as a substitute. Belgium finished with 1.35 expected goals to Egypt’s 1.08, numbers close enough that either side could reasonably claim the better afternoon.
Belgium controlled the ball early but created little of note. Leandro Trossard tested Mostafa Shobeir inside the first ten minutes, and Kevin De Bruyne followed with an effort of his own, but nothing carried real conviction.
Egypt made their spell of pressure count.
Ashour struck from 25 yards in the 20th minute, finishing off a Salah assist with a clean right-footed effort that found the bottom corner. It was his first international goal in his 30th appearance for his country, and it gave Egypt a lead that, on the balance of early chances, felt slightly fortunate.
Here’s the thing Belgium spent the rest of the half struggling to respond.
De Bruyne curled a free kick against the outside of the post just after halftime, the closest Belgium came to an equalizer through normal means. Egypt, for their part, kept generating chances of their own. Omar Marmoush forced a save from Thibaut Courtois, and Salah headed wide from close range in the 55th minute.
Make no mistake, the introduction of Lukaku changed everything.
He replaced Charles De Ketelaere in the 66th minute, and almost immediately his presence in the box forced Hany into a desperate intervention. A cross from the right found Lukaku waiting, and Hany, trying to clear the danger before the striker could connect, instead steered the ball past his own goalkeeper.
Belgium could not build on the equalizer. Brandon Mechele headed against the crossbar in the 83rd minute after a fine save from Shobeir, and Lukaku himself headed over from close range in the 87th, two chances that would have won the match outright.
Egypt almost stole it back at the other end, Zizo going down under a challenge from Maxim De Cuyper in the 89th minute without the referee pointing to the spot.
Both teams created enough to win this. Neither could finish the job. Egypt’s record at the World Cup remains winless after four tournaments, and Belgium’s wait for a group-stage victory stretches on, but for one night in Seattle, both sides will leave knowing they got exactly what their performance deserved.