Prediction vs Result
10.0/10Exact scoreline called.
The AI report
The model called it to the goal: New Zealand 1–3 Egypt is exactly how it finished — a flawless 10.0/10.
On chances, the model penciled in 4 goals and the game delivered 4 — nailing the goal count at 4.
Surman, Ziko, Salah and Trézéguet found the net, and it correctly tipped Salah to score.
Cards ran 4Y/0R on the model's read against 3Y/0R in reality — a quieter night for the referee than projected.
Full comparison
| Metric | AI Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| Scoreline | 1–3 | 1–3 |
| Result | Egypt win | Egypt win |
| Total goals | 4 | 4 |
| Scorers | Mohamed Salah, Chris Wood, Omar Marmoush, Hamza Abdelkarim | Surman, Ziko, Salah, Trézéguet |
| Yellow cards | 4 | 3 |
| Red cards | 0 | 0 |
| Possessionmodel only | 38%–62% | — |
| Shotsmodel only | 9–19 | — |
| Expected goals (xG)model only | 1.2–3.6 | — |
Score, scorers and cards are official; possession, shots and xG are the model’s projections (no official real counterpart).
Match Prediction
How the Model Sees It Unfold
- 14’
- 34’
- 38’
- 52’
- 57’
- 71’
- 76’
- 78’
Pressing & Heat Zones
New Zealand concentrated in their own half, with narrow midfield shape and limited forward forays — most activity in the central defensive corridor and left flank via Cacace.
Egypt dominated the final third, with Salah and Marmoush creating a high-intensity zone on the right channel and inside-left. Midfield press was relentless across the width.
Egypt were simply a class above New Zealand at BC Place, Vancouver, with Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush combining to devastating effect throughout. The Pharaohs' 4-2-3-1 pressed high from the first whistle, forcing the All Whites into long balls that rarely found their target. Salah opened the scoring with a trademark cut inside from the right and a low, curling finish into the far corner — a goal that owed everything to Marmoush's perfectly weighted through ball. New Zealand responded with grit: Chris Wood's 38th-minute header from a Cacace cross gave the All Whites a lifeline and a rousing half-time atmosphere. But Egypt's technical superiority reasserted itself after the break. Marmoush turned provider into scorer in the 57th minute, latching onto Salah's reverse pass and slotting past Crocombe with his left foot. The contest was effectively sealed in the 78th minute when Bindon's clumsy challenge on Hamza Abdelkarim inside the box gave away a penalty, which Abdelkarim converted with ice-cold composure. New Zealand's defensive shape — admirable for long stretches — ultimately couldn't contain the relentless movement of Egypt's front three. Egypt march on with three points; New Zealand will need a result against their remaining opponents to stay in contention.
- Salah registered a goal and an assist — his 12th World Cup goal contribution across qualifying and finals combined.
- Marmoush's brace of contributions (1G, 1A) underlined Egypt's devastating counter-attacking threat.
- Chris Wood's towering header was New Zealand's only shot on target in the first half — classic All Whites resilience.
- Egypt's xG of 3.6 was the highest recorded by any team in Group G's opening round.
- New Zealand's low-block 4-4-2 held Egypt scoreless for 24 minutes before the quality gap told.
- Tyler Bindon's yellow card in the 76th minute leaves him one booking away from suspension in the group stage.
Match Report
BC Place, Vancouver — FIFA World Cup 2026, Group G, Matchday 1
A sun-drenched BC Place buzzed with anticipation as New Zealand and Egypt kicked off Group G proceedings — a clash of footballing cultures, the All Whites' organised pragmatism against the Pharaohs' star-studded flair.
First Half — Egypt's Class Tells Early Egypt wasted no time imposing themselves. Inside 14 minutes, Omar Marmoush — electric from the first whistle — threaded a perfectly weighted ball through the New Zealand defensive line. Mohamed Salah, drifting in from the right, took one touch and curled a low, left-footed shot into the far corner past a helpless Max Crocombe. The goal was vintage Salah: composed, precise, inevitable.
New Zealand refused to buckle. Michael Boxall earned a yellow card in the 34th minute for a cynical foul on Trézéguet as Egypt threatened to double their lead, but the All Whites' defensive resilience held. Then, against the run of play, came the moment that sent the New Zealand supporters into raptures: Liberato Cacace, bombing forward on the left, whipped in a teasing cross in the 38th minute. Chris Wood — the Nottingham Forest striker and All Whites captain — rose above Karim Hafez and powered a header into the top corner. 1-1 at the break, and New Zealand had earned every right to dream.
Second Half — Egypt's Quality Reasserts The second half told a different story. Egypt emerged with renewed purpose, and in the 57th minute the lead was restored. Salah, this time the provider, played a reverse pass into the path of Marmoush, who took a touch to steady himself before sliding a composed finish past Crocombe. The Manchester City forward's movement had been a constant menace all game, and New Zealand's defence simply couldn't contain him.
Emam Ashour picked up a yellow card in the 52nd minute for a cynical midfield foul, but Egypt's rhythm never faltered. New Zealand pressed for an equaliser, with Marko Stamenić (booked, 71') growing increasingly frustrated as chances dried up. The decisive moment came in the 76th minute: Tyler Bindon — already on a yellow — clumsily brought down Hamza Abdelkarim in the box. The young Barcelona striker stepped up himself and sent Crocombe the wrong way. 3-1.
Bindon's second yellow of the match was avoided only by the referee's leniency, but the damage was done. Egypt saw out the final minutes with ease, Salah orchestrating proceedings with a captain's authority. New Zealand — brave, organised, and undone by individual brilliance — will need to regroup quickly.
Result: New Zealand 1–3 Egypt Scorers: Wood 38' (NZL) | Salah 14', Marmoush 57', Abdelkarim 78' pen (EGY)