Mohamed Salah scored one goal and assisted another as Egypt came from behind to beat New Zealand 3-1 and record their first-ever World Cup win.
The Pharoahs had not won during appearances at the 1934, 1990 or 2018 editions of the tournament and, based on a somewhat insipid first-half performance, it looked as though that long run would continue, particularly after Finn Surman powered in the opener after questionable marking from a corner.
Salah’s most significant contribution of the first half was to plant a free-kick the wrong side of the left-hand post from the edge of the area.
Finn Surman headed in the opener for New Zealand
But seemingly after a stern talking-to from head coach Hossam Hassan at the break, the performance from the former Liverpool man and his colleagues improved significantly after it.
Suddenly, their attacks carried menace, forcing New Zealand to sit deeper and deeper – and just before the hour, in a similar position to Surman, the unmarked Mostafa Zico headed in Mohamed Hany’s cross.
Mostafa Zico levelled for Egypt just before the hour mark
Within 10 minutes of the equaliser, after a rapid break, Salah came alive when he traded passes with Zico, then swept home – in the trademark fashion he did so often in the Premier League – to give Egypt the lead for the first time in Vancouver.
And it was he who delivered the corner from the left that found substitute Trezeguet, who dived to head past Max Crocombe to put the icing on the cake and put the knockout stages within touching distance.
The key moments in Vancouver…
- 14: SAVE! Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir makes a smart save at his near post to deny Elijah Just.
- 15: GOAL! Finn Surman is left unmarked at the resulting corner and heads New Zealand in front.
- 35: Omar Marmoush rolls a free-kick short to Mohamed Salah, but the former Liverpool man bends it wide of the left-hand post.
- 52: SAVE! Shobeir has to stay alert to tip a looping header from Callum McCowatt over the bar.
- 58: GOAL! Mohamed Hany picks out Mostafa Zico with a cross from the right and he heads home unchallenged.
- 67: GOAL! Zico exchanges passes with Salah, who then coolly sweeps home to put Egypt in front for the first time.
- 82: GOAL! Salah picks out Trezeguet with a corner from the right, which he dives to plant past Max Crocombe.
- 90+3: CHANCE! Substitute Zizo rounds Crocombe, but takes too long to shoot and his effort is blocked.
What the result means…
Analysis: Salah shines in the World Cup of the superstar
Salah has either scored or assisted in every World Cup game he has played in
Sky Sports’ Dan Long:
He may not have hit the heights of years gone by during the 2025/26 season with Liverpool – what turned out to be his final campaign at Anfield – but Mohamed Salah is doing what he does best at this summer’s World Cup.
Once he had warmed up in Vancouver, he took the goal that put Egypt in front for the first time with ease. It was a familiar finish – and a historic one, too, as the 34-year-old became the oldest goalscorer for Egypt at a World Cup. Later, he also became the oldest African player on record to both score and assist a goal at a World Cup.
In doing so, Salah has continued his record of either scoring or assisting in every World Cup game he has featured in.
In 2018, he played against Russia and Saudi Arabia and scored in both games. Now, in 2026, he assisted Mohamed Hany’s goal against Belgium before his starring role against New Zealand.
This summer’s edition has been dubbed the World Cup of the superstar – and after helping the Pharoahs to the brink of the knockout stages, Salah is proving he is still absolutely one of those.
