Summary

  • Egypt face Iran in Group G at World Cup

  • Match being played at Seattle Stadium in United States

  • Belgium & New Zealand also in Group G

  • Match being played at BC Place Vancouver in Canada

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  1. MISSED PENALTYpublished at 04:13 BST

    Egypt 1-0 Iran

    Good save from Mostafa Shobeir who dives to his left to push away Mehdi Taremi's spot-kick with his defence able to scramble away the loose ball.

    Three straight penalties missed in this World Cup.

  2. PENALTY TO IRANpublished at 04:11 BST

    Egypt 1-0 Iran

    Now then...

    Abdelmoniem is caught in possession in the box and concedes a spot-kick.

  3. Postpublished at 04:10 BST

    New Zealand 0-0 Belgium

    Some encouraging early signs from Belgium as Kevin De Bruyne switches play with effortless ease and Youri Tielemans has lashed the game's first shot over the bar from just outside the box.

  4. 'A very tidy finish'published at 04:08 BST

    Egypt 1-0 Iran

    Danny Murphy
    Former England midfielder on BBC Two

    It's a very tidy finish. There are three players on the line but it sneaks through. He makes a good connection and it goes through the keeper's legs.

    A brilliant start from Egypt.

  5. goal

    GOAL: Egypt 1-0 Iranpublished at 5 mins

    Mahmoud Saber

    Nightmare start for Iran.

    It's a lovely move from Egypt as Zico's neat touch with his chest tees up Mohamed Salah on the right of the area. His effort is clawed away by keeper Alireza Beiranvand but he can't prevent Mahmoud Saber firing home the loose ball to put the Group G leaders ahead.

    Mahmoud Saber scoresImage source, Getty Images
  6. Postpublished at 04:04 BST

    Egypt 0-0 Iran

    Lively start in Seattle with both sides looking keen to drive forward as swiftly as possible.

    Egypt bossing most of the ball and Iran content to sit back for now.

  7. KICK-OFFpublished at 04:01 BST

    Egypt 0-0 Iran; New Zealand 0-0 Belgium

    Away we go... Group G has been bubbling away but it's going to come to the boil in the next two hours.

    Don't go anywhere...

  8. More booing for the Iranian anthempublished at 03:59 BST

    Egypt v Iran (04:00 BST)

    Pooria Jafereh
    BBC Persian

    Seattle is not Los Angeles, but the reaction to the national anthem of the Islamic Republic of Iran has been exactly the same as in the first two matches. Large sections of the Iranian crowd booed while the anthem was being played.

    The Lion and Sun flags, associated with pre-revolutionary Iran, once again comfortably outnumber the official flags of the Islamic Republic inside the stadium.

    Iran fans as thre national anthem is sangImage source, Getty Images
  9. Formalities donepublished at 03:59 BST

    Both games kick-off at 04:00 BST

    Hand slaps, coin toss and pre-match photos all done... we'll have a moment of silence in respect of those affected by the Venezuelan earthquake.

    After that the only thing left is to play football and sort this Group G table out once and for all.

    Mohamed Salah of Egypt shakes hands with Mehdi TaremiImage source, Getty Images
  10. 'New challenge for Iran players'published at 03:58 BST

    Egypt v Iran (04:00 BST)

    Pooria Jafereh
    BBC Persian

    Seattle is not Los Angeles. This no longer feels like a home game for Iran. The Egyptians have come to this historic match in big numbers, and that will be a new challenge for the Iranian players if they want to get anything out of the game.

    There are also plenty of Liverpool shirts in the crowd, blending almost seamlessly with the red of the Egypt jerseys.

    Every time Mohamed Salah runs at the Iranian defence, you can expect the roar to rise around Seattle’s World Cup stadium.

  11. Belgium aim to rediscover scoring touchpublished at 03:56 BST

    New Zealand v Belgium (04:00 BST)

    Jeremy Doku arrives at BC Place for the Belgium game against New ZealandImage source, Getty Images

    You could be forgiven for forgetting Belgium were the No1 ranked team on the planet for four years until the last World Cup in 2022.

    The Red Devils might be unbeaten in 15 games, but they just cannot find the net, especially on the biggest stage where they have managed just two goals across their past five World Cup games, one of which was an own-goal in the draw with Egypt in the opening game.

    They have mustered 69 shots without scoring since Micky Batshuayi netted against Canada four years ago, though Jeremy Doku (pictured) is back for this game while their defence remains as stoic as ever.

    Thibaut Courtois is set to make a record‑breaking 18th World Cup appearance, overtaking Enzo Scifo as the most in Belgian history.

    His clean sheet against Iran was his eighth, another tonight would take him one behind Peter Shilton and Fabien Barthez for the most in World Cup history.

  12. Teams are outpublished at 03:54 BST

    Both games kick-off at 04:00 BST

    Just 120 miles apart, as the crow flies, the players have emerged from the tunnels in Seattle and Vancouver, taken the long walk through the giant flags stretched across the pitch and we are currently enjoying the anthems.

  13. Will it be All White on the night?published at 03:52 BST

    New Zealand v Belgium (04:00 BST)

    Darren Bazeley and his New Zealand players check out the Vancouver pitchImage source, Getty Images

    New Zealand are a funny one.

    The lowest-ranked qualifier for this tournament, at 85th in the world, the All Whites are seeking to avoid unwanted history tonight as Darren Bazeley's men seek a first win on the biggest stage in their ninth attempt.

    If they fall short they will match the mark of Honduras as the nation to have played the most World Cup games without a win.

    That said, before the 2-1 defeat to Egypt in their second game, the Kiwis were unbeaten in four games stretching back to 1982, and have avoided defeat in their past two games against European opposition, drawing with both Slovakia and Italy, then defending champions, in 2010.

  14. Watch highlights of Belgium's draw with Iranpublished at 03:50 BST

    New Zealand v Belgium (04:00 BST)

    Media caption,

    Ten-man Belgium remain winless after draw with Iran

    Goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand made a string of impressive saves to keep alive Iran's hopes of reaching the World Cup knockout stage for the first time, as they earned a hard-fought point against 10-man Belgium.

  15. Better late than never for Iranpublished at 03:48 BST

    Egypt v Iran (04:00 BST)

    Shoja Khalilzadeh #4, Mehdi Taremi #9 and Ramin Rezaeian #23 of IR Iran prepare to warm up before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G match between Egypt and IR IranImage source, Getty Images

    For Iran, a third successive draw in Group G could almost certain prove enough to reach the last 32, depending on other results to come, but a win would guarantee it.

    Whatever you do, don't go to bed early (or late, whatever... you know what I mean)... Iran's past two wins at the World Cup were both goalless heading into injury time.

    They then scored a 95th -minute winner against Morocco in 2018 and netted in the 98th and 101st minutes in their 2-0 victory against Wales four years ago.

  16. 'Attention goes beyond football'published at 03:44 BST

    Egypt v Iran (04:00 BST)

    Shaimaa Khalil
    BBC News

    Seattle’s stadium is steadily filling up, with a cacophony of sights and sounds. Egyptian flags ripple through the crowd alongside elaborate pharaoh headdresses, while countless Mohamed Salah shirts stand out in the sea of red. Familiar Egyptian pop songs ring out, prompting one young woman to break into an impromptu belly dance.

    Iranian supporters have arrived carrying both the official flag of the Islamic Republic and the pre-revolutionary Lion and Sun flag. Nearby, anti-Iranian government chants compete with the music. Many supporters have their faces painted in the colours of both nations, while others wave rainbow flags or wear rainbow wigs

    The stakes are high with Egypt and Iran both chasing a place in the knockout stages. But this fixture has already attracted attention beyond football. Seattle has designated it part of the city’s Pride celebrations, placing it at the intersection of a city celebrating its LGBTQ community and two Muslim-majority nations whose football federations have expressed discomfort with that association.

    It is a vivid reminder that when the World Cup comes to town, it rarely brings just football. It also becomes a meeting point for identity, politics, culture and sport — all playing out in the same place

    An Egypt fan wearing a Pharaoh hat
    Iran fans wave before the match
  17. Rainbow flags await Egypt and Iran at awkward Pride Matchpublished at 03:42 BST

    Egypt v Iran (04:00 BST)

    A rainbow flag flying at Seattle StadiumImage source, Getty Images

    Iran's head coach Amir Ghalenoei says he will not address "things that do not exist" as his team prepare to play Egypt in Seattle.

    Local organisers have designated the game as a Pride Match because it falls on the Friday before Pride Weekend, which celebrates diversity and the LGBTQ+ community.

    Drag performances and Pride watch parties are planned across the city while rainbow flags - a symbol of LGBTQ+ pride, diversity, and social inclusion - will fly inside the stadium.

    Despite complaints from Iran and Egypt, countries where homosexuality is illegal, the event will still take place.

    Click here for more.

  18. Watch highlights of Egypt's win over New Zealandpublished at 03:40 BST

    Egypt v Iran (04:00 BST)

    Media caption,

    Salah scores to help Egypt to first World Cup win

    Mohamed Salah inspired Egypt to their first-ever World Cup win, at their ninth attempt, which has proved enough to secure their qualification for the last 32.

    Salah's 67th-minute goal gave Egypt the lead - after they recovered from a shock early New Zealand opener - before his corner was headed home by Trezeguet to seal the historic 3-1 win.

  19. Pharaohs seek to make historypublished at 03:38 BST

    Egypt v Iran (04:00 BST)

    A fan holds up a picture of Mo Salah with a crown infront of an Egypt bannerImage source, Getty Images

    Egypt claimed their first-ever win at a World Cup in the second round of games with a 3-1 victory over New Zealand.

    It was their ninth attempt at doing so, having drawn three and lost five of their previous eight matches across four tournaments (1934, 1990, 2018 and 2026).

    With a final game against Iran – a side who have won just one of their past seven World Cup games – they have a great chance to double their World Cup wins tally and qualify for the knockout stages as group winners.