New Zealand vs Egypt: Top five players to watch out for in FIFA World Cup 2026 ft. Elijah Just & Omar Marmoush
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Mohamed Salah and Egypt will be eager to get their first win in the FIFA World Cup 2026
New Zealand and Egypt played out hard-fought draws in their first games against Iran and Belgium, respectively. With Group G tightly poised, a win in matchweek 2 will make either team the favourite to qualify for the knockout stage.
Both Egypt and New Zealand will be confident of getting all three points after good performances in their first games. Here are five players who would have a big say on the result of this FIFA World Cup 2026 game.
5. Omar Marmoush (Egypt)
The Manchester City striker had five shots in the first game but couldn’t find the back of the net against Belgium. Aside from taking his shots, Omar Marmoush was not very involved, completing just 12 passes to teammates.
Playing against New Zealand next, Marmoush will be the pinnacle of Egypt’s attack once again. The striker has 10 goals in 51 appearances for his nation, and he will be hungry to add to this against New Zealand.
4. Mostafa Ziko (Egypt)
The 29-year-old Pyramids FC player made his international debut in June 2026 and has only played for Egypt three times. Mostafa Ziko has been added to this list because he scored in both pre-World Cup friendlies against Russia and Brazil.
Ziko took two shots against Belgium but couldn’t score past Thibaut Courtois and did not have a telling contribution. However, he is one of the in-form players for the Egyptian football team and can cause trouble to the New Zealand backline if he gets going.
3. Chris Wood (New Zealand)
Chris Wood is arguably one of the biggest football personalities to play for New Zealand. The 34-year-old has played the entirety of his club career in England and has represented the likes of Burnley, Newcastle United, and Nottingham Forest in recent seasons.
The striker has scored 45 goals in 89 appearances for the New Zealand football team since making his debut in 2009. Chris Wood got both the assists against Iran, and he would be their biggest attacking threat against Egypt once again.
Also Read: Preview: New Zealand vs Egypt prediction, odds, where to watch, time | FIFA World Cup 2026
2. Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
Belgium kept Mohamed Salah very quiet in front of goal, conceding just one shot to the Egyptian King, that too through a header. However, the ex-Liverpool player would still find a way to contribute, as he assisted Emam Ashour’s goal in the 1-1 draw.
Salah will play on the right wing against New Zealand, but he can also be expected to play centrally behind Marmoush if needed. The 34-year-old had a good run towards the end of the 2025-26 season and would be looking to continue his form in what is likely his last FIFA World Cup.
1. Elijah Just (New Zealand)
Elijah Just scored both of New Zealand’s goals against Iran in the 2-2 draw. He has played his club career in the Scottish Premiership with Motherwell and has been part of his national team’s setup since 2019.
The 26-year-old winger is not a household name, but if he continues the wonderful start to his FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign, he might become one in the next few weeks. Aside from being a goalscoring threat, Elijah Just also had a decent defensive contribution against Iran.
When and where will the New Zealand vs Egypt game be played?
The game will be played at BC Place in Vancouver on Sunday, June 21.
In what group are these two sides drawn?
They are drawn in Group G alongside Iran and Belgium.
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Aasif, a football fan turned writer, has been writing about the sport since 2020. Based in Chennai, it is no surprise that love for Chennaiyin FC runs in his blood. Apart from Indian football, Aasif has also written and edited articles extensively about European football.