Romelu Lukuku shrugged off fitness concerns to help spare Belgium’s embarrassment as they fought back for a 1-1 draw against Egypt in their opening match of the World Cup in Seattle. Lukaku, his country’s record goalscorer, was introduced in the 66th minute and within seconds was involved in the move that saw Mohamed Hany prod in an own goal to bring the two-time semi-finalists back on level terms.
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Cape Verde pulled off the shock of the 2026 World Cup so far as they held European champions Spain to a battling goalless draw in their Group H opener in Atlanta. Despite seeing plenty of possession in the first half, Luis De La Fuente’s team – who started with Lamine Yamal on the bench – were unable to break down a determined Cape Verde defence, as Ferran Torres hit the crossbar from close range.
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Brighton’s Yasin Ayari struck twice and Alexander Isak was on target as Sweden proved too strong for Tunisia and sealed a 5-1 win in their World Cup opener. Isak put his injury-wrecked first season with Liverpool behind him, grabbing Sweden’s second goal before seizing on a defensive mishap to provide Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres with the third.
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A late goal from Amad Diallo earned the Ivory Coast a 1-0 win in their entertaining opening World Cup clash with Ecuador in Philadelphia. The South Americans struck the woodwork three times with the Ivory Coast also rattling the bar before the Manchester United forward, on as a substitute, found the bottom corner in the 90th minute. Ecuador carved out the better chances of an entertaining first half, Enner Valencia blazing over the bar after Emmanuel Agbadou’s slip gave him room in the penalty area.
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Japan hit back twice to start their World Cup campaign with an entertaining 2-2 draw against the Netherlands. The Dutch were denied a victory in their the World Cup Group F opener when Koki Ogawa’s 88th-minute header took a deflection off Daichi Kamada before going in at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas. After a drab first half where chances were few and far between, the came to life when an unmarked Virgil van Dijk headed home in the 51st minute from Liverpool team-mate Ryan Gravenberch’s cross.
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