Egypt’s World Cup record at a glance
Egypt has now reached the World Cup four times and, after decades of near misses, finally won a match at the 2026 finals.
2026 is the Pharaohs’ fourth appearance, following 1934, 1990 and 2018.
The headline numbers, including the 2026 campaign so far:
| Metric | Egypt’s record |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 4 (1934, 1990, 2018, 2026) |
| Matches played | 11 |
| Wins | 1 (v New Zealand, 2026), plus a penalty shootout win v Australia |
| Draws | 5 (two in 1990, v Belgium and Iran in 2026, and v Australia before penalties) |
| Losses | 5 |
| Goals scored | 11 |
| Best finish | Round of 16 (2026 campaign ongoing) |
1934: the first African and Arab team at a World Cup
Egypt made history in 1934 as the first African and Arab nation ever to play at a World Cup.
| Year | Host | How Egypt’s tournament ended |
|---|---|---|
| 1934 | Italy | Lost in the first round (round of 16) |
| 1990 | Italy | Group stage (2 draws, 1 loss) |
| 2018 | Russia | Group stage (3 losses) |
| 2026 | USA, Canada & Mexico | Round of 16 (campaign ongoing) |
1990: two draws but still no win
Italia ’90 was, at the time, Egypt’s best World Cup showing on paper, with two draws from three games — though still no victory and another group-stage exit.
Egypt were drawn in Group F alongside England, the Republic of Ireland and the Netherlands.
Their results:
- Egypt 1-1 Netherlands: Magdy Abdelghani scored from the penalty spot
- Egypt 0-0 Republic of Ireland: a goalless stalemate
- England 1-0 Egypt: a 58th-minute Mark Wright header settled it
Egypt finished bottom of the group but were far from disgraced, in a section that set a record with five draws.
2018: Salah’s tournament ends in three defeats
Egypt returned in 2018 with Mohamed Salah at his peak but lost all three group games in Russia.
Salah had injured his shoulder in the Champions League final weeks earlier and missed the opening match.
The results from Group A:
| Fixture | Result | Egypt scorer |
|---|---|---|
| Egypt v Uruguay (15 Jun) | 0-1 | — |
| Russia v Egypt (19 Jun) | 3-1 | Salah (penalty) |
| Saudi Arabia v Egypt (25 Jun) | 2-1 | Salah |
Salah’s two goals — a penalty against Russia and a finish against Saudi Arabia — made him only the third Egyptian ever to score at a World Cup, after Fawzi in 1934 and Abdelghani in 1990, as noted in FIFA’s Egypt profile.
Both losses came late, with Uruguay’s winner arriving in the 89th minute and Saudi Arabia’s in stoppage time.
Egypt at the 2026 World Cup: a historic first win and knockout return
Egypt are in Group G alongside Belgium, Iran and New Zealand.
They opened with a 1-1 draw against Belgium in Seattle on 15 June 2026, Emam Ashour striking first before a late Belgium equaliser.
Then came the breakthrough on 21 June 2026: a 3-1 win over New Zealand in Vancouver, Egypt’s first-ever victory at a World Cup, 92 years after their debut.
Egypt then drew 1-1 with Iran to complete an unbeaten group stage, before beating Australia on penalties in the Round of 32 after a 1-1 draw. They face Argentina in the Round of 16 in Atlanta on 7 July.
Follow our guide on Egypt team match schedule here:
Egypt Match at the 2026 World Cup: Full Schedule, Dates and Kick-off Times
For fans planning to follow the team, you can compare flights to the United States and hotels in host cities on Wego, and track schedules with the Wego flight tracker.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times has Egypt qualified for the World Cup?
Egypt has qualified four times: 1934, 1990, 2018 and 2026. The 1934 appearance made them the first African and Arab nation to play at a World Cup.
Has Egypt ever won a World Cup match?
Yes. Egypt claimed their first-ever World Cup win on 21 June 2026, beating New Zealand 3-1 in Vancouver — 92 years after their tournament debut. They also advanced past Australia on penalties in the 2026 Round of 32 after a draw.
Who has scored for Egypt at the World Cup?
Scorers include Abdulrahman Fawzi (two goals in 1934), Magdy Abdelghani (one penalty in 1990) and Mohamed Salah, who has now found the net at both the 2018 and 2026 tournaments. Emam Ashour, Mostafa Zico and Trezeguet have also scored at the 2026 finals.
Did Egypt qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
Yes. Egypt topped CAF Group A and confirmed qualification on 8 October 2025 with a 3-0 win over Djibouti. It is their first World Cup appearance since 2018.
Sources
- FIFA — Egypt at the FIFA World Cup: Team profile and history
- FIFA — Egypt soar to World Cup qualification
- CAF — Salah-inspired Egypt seal 2026 World Cup qualification
- FIFA — Belgium 1-1 Egypt: Match report and highlights
- Al Jazeera — Salah scores as Egypt beat New Zealand 3-1 for first World Cup win (goalscorers)
- ESPN — New Zealand 1-3 Egypt (21 June 2026), BC Place, Vancouver
- Al Jazeera — Egypt qualify for 2026 World Cup with win over Djibouti
- FIFA+ — Mark Wright goal 58′, England v Egypt, 1990 World Cup
- Wikipedia — 2026 FIFA World Cup Group G (fixtures and schedule)
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