FIFA WC 2026 Belgium vs Egypt: Kick-off time, live stream, squads
Synopsis
Belgium's golden generation meets Egypt's Salah-powered revival in a Group G opener that carries echoes of their 2022 pre-tournament friendly — which Egypt won 2-1. With Belgium chasing a fourth straight World Cup and a first final, and Egypt back after a six-year absence, Seattle Stadium sets the stage for one of the tournament's most intriguing early contests.
Key Takeaways
Belgium vs Egypt , FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G , kicks off at 12:30 AM IST on 16 June 2026 at Seattle Stadium .
This is Belgium's 15th World Cup and fourth consecutive appearance ; they finished third at Russia 2018 .
Egypt are making their fourth World Cup appearance overall, returning after a six-year absence following an unbeaten qualifying campaign.
In their last meeting — a pre-Qatar 2022 friendly — Egypt won 2-1 .
Indian viewers can stream the match on Zee5 (subscription required) and watch on Unite8 Sports 1/2 TV channels.
Referee: Ramon Abatti .
Belgium face Egypt in a high-stakes FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G opener at Seattle Stadium on Tuesday, 16 June, with kick-off set for 12:30 AM IST. The Red Devils enter as one of Europe's most decorated sides, while the Pharaohs return to the global stage for the first time since Russia 2018.
Match Context and Recent History
This is Belgium's 15th FIFA World Cup campaign and their fourth consecutive appearance at the tournament, having featured in every edition since 2014. The Red Devils finished third at Russia 2018 — their best-ever result — and will be eager to replicate or surpass that run in North America 2026.
Egypt, by contrast, are making just their fourth World Cup appearance overall (1934, 1990, 2018, 2026), having qualified after an unbeaten group-stage campaign. The Pharaohs arrive buoyed by a strong qualifying run and the perennial star power of Mohamed Salah, whose brilliance similarly carried enormous expectations at Russia 2018 — a tournament Egypt exited in the group stage.
The two nations have met before: in a pre-Qatar 2022 friendly, Egypt won 2-1, giving the Pharaohs a psychological edge heading into Tuesday's contest.
How to Watch Belgium vs Egypt Live in India
Indian viewers can catch all the action via live streaming on Zee5 (platform and app), though a subscription will be required. Live telecast will be available on Unite8 Sports 1, Unite8 Sports 1 HD, Unite8 Sports 2, and Unite8 Sports 2 HD TV channels.
Key Match Details
Date: Tuesday, 16 June 2026
Kick-off: 12:30 AM IST
Venue: Seattle Stadium, Seattle, USA
Referee: Ramon Abatti
Group: Group G
Belgium Squad
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Senne Lammens, Mike Penders
Defenders: Timothy Castagne, Zeno Debast, Maxim De Cuyper, Koni De Winter, Brandon Mechele, Thomas Meunier, Nathan Ngoy, Joaquin Seys, Arthur Theate
Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne, Amadou Onana, Nicolas Raskin, Youri Tielemans, Hans Vanaken, Axel Witsel
Forwards: Charles De Ketelaere, Jérémy Doku, Matías Fernández-Pardo, Romelu Lukaku, Dodi Lukebakio, Diego Moreira, Alexis Saelemaekers, Leandro Trossard
Egypt Squad
Goalkeepers: Mohamed Alaa, Mohamed El Shenawy, Mostafa Shobeir, El Mahdy Soliman
Defenders: Hossam Abdelmagid, Mohamed Abdelmonem, Tarek Alaa, Ahmed Fatouh, Karim Hafez, Mohamed Hany, Yasser Ibrahim, Rami Rabia
Midfielders: Emam Ashour, Marwan Attia, Nabil Emad, Hamdi Fathi, Haitham Hassan, Mohannad Lashin, Mahmoud Saber, Mahmoud Hassan 'Trezeguet', Mostafa Zico, Ahmed Sayed 'Zizo'
Forwards: Hamza Abdulkarim, Ibrahim Adel, Omar Marmoush, Mohamed Salah
With Belgium's golden generation seeking a farewell statement and Egypt's Salah-led side hungry to go deep, Group G promises to be one of the most watched contests of the tournament's opening week.
Point of View
Meanwhile, are not the same side that stumbled through Russia 2018; their unbeaten qualifying run signals genuine cohesion beyond Salah. The 2-1 friendly result in their favour is a footnote, but it tells you Egypt are not here to make up numbers. If Belgium's ageing midfield — anchored by a 34-year-old Kevin De Bruyne — struggles to press, this Group G opener could be far tighter than the rankings suggest.
NationPress
30 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Belgium vs Egypt in FIFA World Cup 2026?
Belgium vs Egypt kicks off at 12:30 AM IST on Tuesday, 16 June 2026, at Seattle Stadium in Seattle, USA. The match is part of FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G.
How can Indian fans watch Belgium vs Egypt live?
Indian fans can stream the match live on Zee5 (subscription required). Live telecast is available on Unite8 Sports 1, Unite8 Sports 1 HD, Unite8 Sports 2, and Unite8 Sports 2 HD TV channels.
What is Belgium's World Cup record heading into 2026?
Belgium are appearing at their 15th FIFA World Cup and their fourth consecutive tournament. Their best result remains a third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
How many times has Egypt qualified for the FIFA World Cup?
The 2026 edition marks Egypt's fourth World Cup appearance, having previously featured in 1934, 1990, and 2018. They qualified for 2026 after an unbeaten group-stage campaign.
What is the head-to-head record between Belgium and Egypt?
The two sides met in a pre-Qatar 2022 friendly, with Egypt winning 2-1. That result gives the Pharaohs a slight psychological edge ahead of their Group G encounter in Seattle.
