Marwan Attia: Egypt Aims to Make History in World Cup After Draw with Belgium

Marwan Attia, a player for the Egyptian national team, expressed that the Pharaohs are determined to achieve a historic milestone during their participation in the 2026 World Cup. He highlighted that the draw against Belgium in their opening match provides a significant morale boost as they continue their journey in the tournament.

Egypt secured a valuable point from their match against Belgium, which ended in a 1-1 draw, as part of the first round of Group G at the 2026 World Cup being held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Imam Ashour opened the scoring for Egypt in the 20th minute before Belgium equalized in the second half through an own goal by Mohamed Hani.

In post-match television comments, Attia noted that facing Belgium was challenging from the outset due to their strong squad filled with experienced players. He affirmed that the coaching staff prepared the team well, allowing players to effectively implement the game plan on the field.

Attia added that Egypt handled the match intelligently, utilizing quick transitions from defense to attack and leveraging individual talents like Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, which led to several dangerous opportunities against the Belgian goal.

The national midfielder emphasized that all players gave their utmost throughout the match. While they aimed for victory, he acknowledged the significance of securing a point against one of the top contenders in the tournament.

He stressed that Egypt’s ambitions go beyond merely making a respectable appearance; they aim to achieve an unprecedented accomplishment in World Cup history. Attia confirmed that players are motivated and determined to advance far into the competition.

He concluded his remarks by emphasizing the importance of building on this result against Belgium for their upcoming matches, stating that the team will continue working towards positive outcomes to enhance their chances of advancing to the next round.

Egypt is set to face New Zealand in their second group stage match, which is crucial for their qualification prospects in Group G.