Emam Ashour has etched his name into Egyptian football history, scoring his first-ever World Cup goal against Belgium’s Thibaut Courtois. The moment arrived on the biggest stage in football, with Egypt competing in Group G of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
For a 28-year-old midfielder making his World Cup debut, that’s not a bad way to introduce yourself to a global audience.
From Cairo to the world stage
Ashour’s journey to this point has been anything but overnight. Born on February 20, 1998, he earned his first caps for the Egyptian national team back in 2021. Five years of international duty preceded this moment, but nothing quite compares to finding the net at a World Cup.
Egypt and Belgium were drawn together in Group G, with their encounter scheduled for June 15, 2026, in Seattle.
