New Zealand vs Egypt Preview: Team News & Prediction | FIFA World Cup 2026 | Group Stage
After both sides earned a point in their opening game, New Zealand and Egypt now face off in Vancouver with a chance of more-or-less wrapping up knockout stage football.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – ITV / USA – FOX Sports
How to watch online: UK – ITVX / USA – FOX One
New Zealand preview: Potent partnership up-front
In their opening game of FIFA World Cup 2026, New Zealand shared an entertaining 2-2 draw against IR Iran in Los Angeles. Twice having taken the lead before being pegged back, New Zealand enjoyed the exploits of star attacking duo Chris Wood and Elijah Just with the Nottingham Forest striker assisting the Motherwell winger for both goals with two excellent moves in California.
The New Zealanders may be a little frustrated to have not pinched all three points in that game but Darren Bazeley will remain confident ahead of this one because their performance was much-improved on what had gone before, heading into the tournament on the back of an 11-match winless run that has now been extended to 12.
Egypt preview: Solid draw
Hossam Hassan very nearly oversaw an excellent victory in Egypt's opening game as they took an early lead, via Emam Ashour, against Belgium before Mohamed Hany scored an own goal mid-way through the second half, under major pressure from Romelu Lukaku, to peg the North Africans for just a point.
Egypt, the record seven-time champions of Africa, have always underwhelmed on the global stage, still awaiting a first ever victory at a FIFA World Cup. The Pharaohs reached the semi-finals of the 2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year but criticism of Hassan, their all-time top goal scorer, has persisted due to fairly average performances. However, they will take encouragement from the improvement that they showed against Belgium.
New Zealand team news: Filling in for Garbett
Further team news will appear here closer to the match after pre-match press conferences...
Peterborough United midfielder Matthew Garbett is a key man for New Zealand but he had to withdraw from the squad on the eve of the tournament, heaping the pressure on the aforementioned Just and Wood to make even more of an impact up front.
Callum McCowatt came in and played an industrious role down the right-hand side of New Zealand's attack, while Finn Surman was preferred ahead of Tyler Bindon at centre-back.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Crocombe; Payne, Surman, Boxall, Cacace; Bell, Stamenic; McCowatt, Singh, Just; Wood
Unavailable:
Questionable:
Egypt team news: Narrow Salah
Further team news will appear here closer to the match after pre-match press conferences...
Egypt played with quite a narrow shape in their opener against Belgium with Omar Marmoush and Mohamed Salah partnered together up front before Salah was replaced towards the end of the game as his running began to decline.
The likes of former Aston Villa winger Trezeguet and Real Oviedo's Haissem Hassan could provide Hossam Hassan with a bit more adventure in attack if they choose to go with a more proactive shape against weaker opposition.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Shobeir; Hany, Ibrahim, Fathy, Fatouh; Attia, Lasheen; Salah, Ashour, Trezeguet; Marmoush
Unavailable:
Questionable:
New Zealand’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Tim Payne ($3.6m) – Defender
Elijah Just ($4.2m) – Midfielder
Chris Wood ($6.5m) – Forward
Matchday 2 captain pick: Elijah Just
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Chris Wood
Free kicks: Sarpreet Singh
Corners: Tim Payne
Egypt’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Mohamed Hany ($3.9m) – Defender
Mohamed Salah ($10.0m) – Midfielder
Omar Marmoush ($7.8m) – Forward
Matchday 2 captain pick: Mohamed Salah
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Mohamed Salah, Omar Marmoush
Free kicks: Mohamed Salah
Corners: Mohamed Salah
Key stats
- Both teams are seeking their first victory at the FIFA World Cup; New Zealand have drawn four and lost three of their seven matches, while Egypt’s record is three draws and five defeats from eight matches.
- This is New Zealand’s first FIFA World Cup match against an African team.
- New Zealand have drawn their last four FIFA World Cup matches.
- At 37 years and 301 days against IR Iran, New Zealand’s Michael Boxall became the oldest OFC player to make an appearance at the global bonanza.
- The point against Belgium was Egypt’s first positive result at the FIFA World Cup since a 0-0 draw with the Republic of Ireland in 1990.
- Egypt have never been losing at half-time in a FIFA World Cup match.
Click here for EVEN MORE stats & facts about this fixture!
New Zealand vs Egypt prediction
New Zealand showed quite a bit of proactivity against IR Iran. That was somewhat surprising but had potentially been indicated by Bazeley opting for a 4-2-3-1 system in the build-up to the tournament, rather than with a back three and wing-backs as the construction of the squad.
That made them fun to watch in their opener, but against an IR Iran side that are limited in the final third, the Kiwis were susceptible at the back - and now the attacking quality that they are going to face is another step-up. Egypt were good against Belgium and should maintain a similar level to defeat an admirable and competitive New Zealand.
New Zealand vs Egypt betting tip: Egypt to win
