Mohamed Salah has described Egypt’s 3–1 victory over New Zealand at the FIFA World Cup 2026 as one of the most significant moments in the country’s football history, after the Pharaohs recorded their first-ever win at the global tournament.
The result marked a historic breakthrough for Egyptian football, which has long dominated African competitions with a record seven Africa Cup of Nations titles but struggled to translate that success onto the World Cup stage.
Egypt, led by captain Salah, came from behind after conceding a first-half goal to secure a dramatic second-half comeback against a resilient New Zealand side in their Group G encounter.
Speaking after the match, Salah said he had urged his teammates to seize the moment and make history.
“I told the players before the game that they could write history today,” he said. “This is our first World Cup win ever. If we can qualify as group winners in the next game, it will be remembered for years to come.”
New Zealand had started brightly, taking a surprise lead and putting Egypt under sustained pressure in the opening half. The Oceania side, known for their organisation and physical style, frustrated Egypt for long spells before the turnaround.
However, Egypt emerged strongly after the break, displaying renewed intensity and attacking quality that ultimately shifted the momentum of the match.
“They scored first and were very sharp in the first half,” Salah explained. “But in the second half, we came back into the game and showed strong mentality.”
The Pharaohs went on to score three unanswered goals, sealing a landmark victory that significantly strengthens their position in Group G ahead of their final fixture.
Salah, who has represented Egypt for more than a decade, said the victory carried deep emotional weight given the national team’s long history of near-misses on the world stage.
“I always try to give my best to the national team and share my experience with the younger players,” he said. “We have reached the Africa Cup finals before and came close to winning trophies, but this is something special.”
Despite the defeat, Salah praised New Zealand for their performance, describing them as a disciplined and physically strong side capable of competing at a high level.
“It is a very good team with good players. Many of them play in Europe. They are mentally strong and physically strong. They made it very difficult for us,” he said.
The Egypt captain also expressed concern for teammate Hossam, who suffered a suspected concussion during the match.
“As captain, I try to check on everybody. I was worried about him and wanted to make sure he was okay,” Salah said.
The victory places Egypt within reach of topping Group G, with a decisive final group match against Iran set to determine their fate in the tournament.
For Salah, however, the result represents more than just qualification prospects — it is a symbolic milestone for Egyptian football.
“For other countries, winning World Cup games may happen often. For us, it doesn’t happen often. This is history for Egypt,” he said.
