Belgium's generational handover hit early friction: Egypt, with Mohamed Salah probing, claimed a 1–1 draw in Seattle to open the tightest group at the tournament — all four Group G teams drew their first match.

Belgium edged possession (54%) and xG (1.35 to 1.08) but couldn't break Egypt down from open play, and the underlying numbers show why the favourites only salvaged a draw: both sides managed just 3 shots on target from roughly 15 attempts each, so neither carried a clinical edge despite the volume. Egypt actually generated more sustained pressure on the flanks, taking 7 corners to Belgium's 2, and led through Emam Ashour's 20th-minute strike. Belgium's leveller came not from their structured build-up but from chaos seconds after Lukaku's introduction, forcing Mohamed Hany's 66th-minute own goal. With identical foul counts (15-15), two yellows apiece and no reds, this was an evenly contested 1-1 in which xG and possession flattered Belgium's control more than the toothless final-third output deserved.