Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah are the centre of Belgium vs Egypt in Seattle Stadium on June 15, 2026, when the two sides open World Cup Group G. De Bruyne said it will be nice to compete against Salah again “like old times”, and Salah is set to lead Egypt out on the day after his 34th birthday. That is the sort of opener that immediately feels bigger than a standard group-stage fixture.
Why the reunion matters beyond the headline names
De Bruyne’s comments came with enough warmth to make the rivalry sound almost old-fashioned. He told football-italia.net: “You know, it's going to be nice to see Mo (Salah) again. I played against Mo for 10 years. Our kids also went to the same school so I saw him from time to time and he's a really nice guy, so it will be nice to see him, nice to compete again like old times.”
There is still a football point underneath that sentiment. De Bruyne also said his time in Italy taught him “how to defend deep”, which matters in a match where Belgium are expected to have more of the ball and Egypt have history on their side. The teams have met four times, and Egypt have won three of those games. They also beat Belgium 2-1 in November 2022, with Mostafa Mohamed scoring first and Trézéguet adding the second after a Salah assist.
Belgium’s qualification numbers were strong enough to support the status they carry into this opener. They scored 29 and conceded 7, which is a decent sign that they can start aggressively if the game opens up early.
Egypt have history, Belgium have the numbers
The head-to-head record gives Egypt a genuine argument, not just a romantic one. Three wins in four meetings is a useful edge when you are walking into a World Cup opener against a side that qualified with 29 goals scored and only 7 conceded.
Belgium were also helped by a positive run in friendlies under Rudi Garcia, winning three of four against the USA, Croatia and Tunisia. That does not guarantee anything on Monday, but it does suggest a squad that has arrived with some rhythm.
Egypt’s own preparation has been less straightforward. They lost their AFCON semi-final to Senegal in January 2026, and Salah’s workload has clearly been managed. He played 45 minutes against Brazil, though his 8.2 rating in that outing showed he can still affect a game without being fully overworked.
That is where the opening becomes more interesting than the reunion angle suggests. Belgium have the cleaner qualifying profile, but Egypt have a better recent record in this matchup and a captain who still looks capable of deciding games. If Salah is sharp, Egypt can make this awkward quickly. If De Bruyne finds control in midfield, Belgium have enough attacking output to take command.
FAQ
Will Belgium vs Egypt in Seattle be decided by De Bruyne and Salah?
They are the central names in the opener. Kevin De Bruyne said it will be nice to compete against Mohamed Salah again “like old times”, and Salah is set to lead Egypt out on the day after his 34th birthday. Belgium also qualified with 29 goals scored and only 7 conceded, so both teams have enough around them for the match to be more than a two-man story.
Why do Egypt have a real chance against Belgium in Group G?
Egypt have won three of the four previous meetings with Belgium, including a 2-1 win in November 2022. That record gives Salah’s side a clear opening-night argument, even though Belgium came through qualifying with 29 goals scored and 7 conceded.
Is Mohamed Salah fully fit for the World Cup opener against Belgium?
The fitness picture is mixed. Salah is set to lead Egypt out on the day after his 34th birthday, but he has also been managed recently, with 45 minutes against Brazil. That leaves some uncertainty over whether he is fully sharp, even if an 8.2 rating in that outing suggests he can still influence games.
Compiled by the ClutchBrief Desk with AI assistance, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →