NEW YORK — Egypt makes history on June 21 as Mohamed Salah inspired a second-half comeback to defeat New Zealand 3-1 in Vancouver, delivering the nation’s first victory in World Cup competition. The result headlined a five-match day across Groups F, G, and H that also saw Japan rout Tunisia 4-0, Spain dismantle Saudi Arabia by the same margin, Belgium and Iran share a tense goalless draw, and debutant Cabo Verde extend their unbeaten run by holding Uruguay to 2-2.
The results tightened the qualification picture across all three groups, extending a pattern of high-stakes outcomes that has defined the tournament’s group stage since the opening match days.
Japan Dominates Tunisia in Landmark 1,000th World Cup Match
Japan dismantled Tunisia 4-0 in the day’s opening fixture, a result that coincided with the 1,000th match in men’s World Cup history and confirmed Japan as the dominant force in Group F.
Daichi Kamada opened the scoring in the fourth minute after Keito Nakamura pulled the ball back from the left flank. Ayase Ueda doubled the advantage before halftime, Junya Ito added a third in the 69th minute, and Ueda completed his brace in the 83rd to finish as the match’s standout performer with two goals and a contribution to Ito’s strike.
The performance arrived without injured playmaker Takefusa Kubo. Rather than absorbing that loss in creativity, coach Hajime Moriyasu’s side compensated with relentless pressing and coordinated width on both flanks. Kamada operated between Tunisia’s midfield and defensive lines throughout, disrupting shape before Japan converted territorial control into a commanding scoreline. Japan became the first Asian nation to score four goals in a single World Cup match.
Tunisia, which had already conceded five against Sweden in the group opener, was eliminated after shipping nine goals in two appearances. The appointment of Hervé Renard following that opening defeat produced no improvement, and Renard acknowledged the scoreline accurately reflected Japan’s superiority.
Japan and the Netherlands now share 4 points and identical plus-four goal differences in Group F, with the Dutch holding the edge on goals scored. A draw against Sweden in their final group match would be sufficient to guarantee Japan a place in the Round of 32.
Spain Puts Four Past Saudi Arabia After Scoreless Opener
Spain answered pointed criticism over their goalless draw against Cabo Verde with a 4-0 demolition of Saudi Arabia in Atlanta.
Lamine Yamal, making his first World Cup start after returning from a hamstring injury, opened the scoring in the 10th minute. Mikel Oyarzabal then struck twice in three minutes, in the 21st and 24th, to put Spain 3-0 ahead before the first-half hydration break. Hassan Altambakti’s own goal in the 49th completed the rout.
Oyarzabal’s display represented a dramatic reversal from the opening match, in which he had not registered a touch during the first 30 minutes. Against Saudi Arabia, he produced two goals and an assist inside the opening 25 minutes, becoming only the second player since detailed records began in 1966 to accumulate three direct goal involvements that quickly in a World Cup fixture.
Yamal’s return restored the direct threat Spain had lacked against Cabo Verde. His positioning on the right stretched Saudi Arabia’s defensive shape and opened central lanes for Oyarzabal and Spain’s midfielders to exploit. Coach Luis de la Fuente withdrew Yamal at halftime with Spain already three goals clear, confirming the substitution was precautionary fitness management rather than a fresh injury concern.
Spain’s defensive pressing was also sharper than in the opener, repeatedly forcing Saudi Arabia into hurried clearances and turnovers. Spain tops Group H with 4 points. A draw against Uruguay in their final group fixture will confirm their place in the Round of 32.
In Inglewood, Belgium and Iran played out a goalless draw that left Group G’s qualification places unresolved. Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand made several decisive saves, including a point-blank stop from Maxim De Cuyper that preserved the stalemate. Belgium defender Nathan Ngoy received a straight red card in the 66th minute for pulling down Mehdi Taremi as he broke clear on goal. Iran could not convert the one-man advantage, and Belgium pushed forward even with ten men, but neither side found the net.
Salah Inspires as Egypt Makes History in Vancouver
Egypt recorded the nation’s first World Cup victory in Vancouver, coming from a goal behind to defeat New Zealand 3-1 in a performance shaped by a decisive tactical adjustment at halftime.
New Zealand took the lead when defender Finn Surman escaped his marker and headed home from a corner. The All Whites entered the break ahead after successfully mixing direct play with periods of controlled possession, and the result appeared to be moving in their favor.
Egypt transformed the contest after halftime. Mostafa Zico equalized in the 58th minute from Mohamed Hany’s cross. Nine minutes later, Salah exchanged passes with Zico, advanced down the right channel, and placed his finish into the far corner. Salah then delivered the corner from which substitute Mahmoud Trezeguet headed in Egypt’s third with a diving finish.
The repositioning of Salah into a central role behind striker Omar Marmoush proved decisive. Operating closer to goal rather than being held wide near the touchline, Salah was able to receive possession in dangerous areas and combine repeatedly with Zico and Egypt’s advancing midfielders. He closed the match with one goal and one assist, bringing his tournament totals across two appearances to one goal and two assists.
New Zealand has now surrendered leads in both of their group matches, having twice been pegged back during a 2-2 draw with Iran before being overrun in the second half against Egypt. The All Whites remain alive with 1 point but must defeat Belgium in their final fixture and then rely on other results and tiebreakers. Egypt can secure their place in the Round of 32 with a win or draw against Iran.
Cabo Verde completed another of the tournament’s major upsets in Miami Gardens, holding Uruguay to a 2-2 draw and remaining unbeaten through two World Cup appearances. Kevin Pina gave the debutants their first-ever World Cup goal with a free kick struck from approximately 31 meters that flew into the net in the 21st minute. Uruguay responded through Maxi Araújo’s headed equalizer and Agustín Canobbio’s headed finish to take the lead, but substitute Hélio Varela cancelled it out shortly after entering, intercepting Mathías Olivera’s loose backpass and finishing into an empty net.
Cabo Verde’s willingness to attack rather than retreat distinguished the display from a defensive exercise. Uruguay again failed to convert periods of control into a victory, leaving Marcelo Bielsa’s side with 2 points from two matches against Saudi Arabia and Cabo Verde. A victory over Saudi Arabia would guarantee Cabo Verde’s advancement to the Round of 32, while Uruguay must defeat Spain and hope results fall in their favor.
Group G now stands with Egypt on 4 points, Belgium and Iran each on 2, and New Zealand on 1. All four nations remain mathematically alive entering the final round, though Egypt hold a commanding position at the summit.
