New Zealand vs Egypt

Egypt favoured, New Zealand chasing an upset: In Vancouver, on the BC Place turf, New Zealand and Egypt put a big slice of their Group G ambitions on the line at the 2026 World Cup, and they do so with one curiosity in common: neither has ever won a match at a World Cup. The All Whites have never managed it in their entire history, while Egypt's wait stretches all the way back to 1934. Both arrive off an opening draw. New Zealand surprised Iran, going ahead twice through Elijah Just's brace before being pegged back to 2-2: a display of heart and legs, but with a defence that conceded twice. Egypt, meanwhile, drew 1-1 with Belgium thanks to Emam Ashour's goal, standing up well to a heavyweight. The quality gap leans toward the Pharaohs, driven by Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, but with a single point each and Belgium already ahead, the stakes are high. The line under review is the chance that Egypt, nominally the away side, score at least once. An outright first New Zealand and Egypt have never met at a World Cup, and their prior meetings are virtually non-existent: this is an outright first between the two nations. New Zealand's best memory remains 2010, when they went unbeaten with three draws yet still went out in the group. With no direct history to consult, the read leans on current quality and the way the two sides have arrived here, with the Pharaohs clearly better stocked in attack. Salah and Marmoush, the Pharaohs' extra weapon Hossam Hassan's Egypt rely on a forward pairing few can match: Mohamed Salah, back in form and already a starter against Belgium, and Omar Marmoush, who brings pace, pressing and goals. The qualifying numbers show how much that department matters: Salah alone finished on nine goals, while at the back Egypt conceded just twice in ten games, with eight clean sheets. Darren Bazeley's New Zealand, by contrast, arrive with no selection worries, a fully fit squad after the battle with Iran, but with a defence that showed a few too many cracks in that very game. The final choices are expected close to kick-off. The verdict: Egypt have everything they need to score The line concerns an Egyptian goal, and the grounds are solid. The Pharaohs have just breached a defence as sturdy as Belgium's, boast an attack that made the difference in qualifying and can call on two men, Salah and Marmoush, able to create and finish even on off days. Facing them is a generous, organised New Zealand, but one that has already conceded twice to Iran and that, to chase a win, will inevitably have to expose itself. I'd put the chance of Egypt scoring at least once around 75%. The main risk is a game in which the All Whites defend with order and numbers and Egypt, perhaps with Salah short of his sharpest, run into a wall; but given the attacking quality on show, an Egypt blank remains the least likely outcome, which is why the confidence here is good.