Belgium vs Egypt: Top five youngsters to watch during FIFA World Cup 2026 match

Egypt have never won a game in FIFA World Cup history.

Belgium entered the previous few FIFA World Cups with a highly experienced squad, featuring players from its much-talked-about golden generation. Despite being considered among the favorites on multiple occasions and winning the FIFA Best Team of the Year award five times in the last decade, the Red Devils failed to lift the trophy, with their best achievement being a third-place finish at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

While experienced names such as Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Thibaut Courtois, Axel Witsel, and others remain part of the setup, the squad now features a number of young players leading the transition into a new era. Egypt, on the other hand, continue to rely heavily on experienced players, with just one player aged 23 or under in their current squad.

Although this fixture may appear to be a straightforward win for Belgium on paper, given their superior ranking, Egypt cannot be underestimated. African nations have often embraced the underdog tag and produced major surprises at FIFA World Cups.

As always, the FIFA World Cup provides a platform for young players to showcase their talent on the biggest stage. Here are five youngsters to keep an eye on when Belgium and Egypt face off in Washington on June 15.

Also Read: Who is Nestory Irankunda? Australia’s youngest-ever FIFA World Cup goalscorer

Top five players to watch for Belgium vs Egypt

S.No.	Player Name	Country
1	Senne Lammens	Belgium
2	Hamza Abdelkarim	Egypt
3	Nathan Ngoy	Belgium
4	Diego Moreira	Belgium
5	Matias Fernandez-Pardo	Belgium

5. Matias Fernandez-Pardo

Matias Fernandez-Pardo is another recent addition to the Belgium setup and received his call-up shortly before the start of the World Cup. The 21-year-old Lille forward finished the season with eight goals and seven assists in over 70 appearances.

Rather than operating as a traditional penalty-box striker, Fernandez-Pardo thrives as a versatile forward who often drifts into wide areas to find more space and time on the ball. He is an effective ball carrier and could prove particularly dangerous if partnered with a striker such as Romelu Lukaku, whose presence often attracts defenders and creates opportunities for others around him to exploit.

4. Diego Moreira

Belgium-born winger Diego Moreira represented both Portugal and Belgium at the youth level before committing his international future to Belgium at the senior level. The former Chelsea player currently represents Strasbourg in Ligue 1, the sister club of Chelsea.

Moreira is often deployed as a left wing-back at the club level, a role that allows him to maximise both his defensive qualities and attacking threat. He excels at carrying the ball forward from wide areas through his dribbling ability and is also known for delivering dangerous set-pieces with his left foot. He finished last season with 14 goal contributions across all competitions.

3. Nathan Ngoy

Nathan Ngoy, who plays for Lille in Ligue 1, made his senior Belgium debut just a few months ago during the March international window against the United States. Since then, he has started all three matches and is gradually establishing himself as an important figure in Belgium’s defence.

With Zeno Debast injured and expected to miss the opening stages of the tournament, Ngoy is likely to start as the right-sided centre-back. His composure in possession allows Belgium to play out from the back effectively, while his recovery pace enables the team to maintain a higher defensive line. Ngoy is also a physically imposing defender who is proactive and robust in both his tackles and interceptions.

2. Hamza Abdelkarim

The only player aged 23 or under in the current Egypt squad is Hamza Abdelkarim, who plays for Barcelona’s reserve side in Spain. At just 18 years of age, Hamza received his first senior national team call-up ahead of a major tournament and recently made his debut against Russia.

With limited senior-level experience and very little statistical data available, Hamza appears to be a traditional number nine who thrives on attacking crosses and converting chances from close range through headers and instinctive finishing. He also possesses raw pace and a strong desire to outmuscle defenders inside the box, using his positional awareness to create goalscoring opportunities.

1. Senne Lammens

Senne Lammens, who completed a high-profile move from the Belgian Pro League to Manchester United in the Premier League, has shown throughout the season that pressure does not faze him despite his young age. Replacing Andre Onana carried significant expectations, especially with Manchester United eager to avoid repeating past mistakes in the goalkeeping department.

Lammens has settled seamlessly at Old Trafford, commanding his penalty area with impressive composure. He makes full use of his aerial presence to deal with crosses and set-pieces while also possessing the confidence to come off his line and operate as a sweeper-keeper when required. In addition, his reflexes are outstanding, allowing him to produce crucial saves with both his hands and feet.

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