World Cup 2026: Egypt vs New Zealand Tips, Odds & Prediction

* Odds supplied by Betway, accurate when published.

Egypt take on New Zealand at BC Place in Vancouver on Monday, with the game starting at 03:00 CAT, and neither side has ever won a World Cup match after both drew their opening fixtures. Egypt drew 1-1 with Belgium thanks to an Ashour goal set up by Mohamed Salah, while New Zealand went ahead twice against Iran but had to settle for 2-2. All four Group G nations sit on one point each, so both teams simply have to win. All our World Cup betting tips are waiting in our dedicated section.

Egypt

Egypt go in as strong favourites and I see them taking control through Salah down the right and Omar Marmoush up front, with Emam Ashour running the show after his excellent goal against Belgium. They produced plenty of chances in the first game and only an own goal cost them victory, so the attacking base is in place. The only concern is defensive: Ahmed Fattoh is a single yellow card from a ban after being booked against Belgium, which could limit how boldly he bombs forward from left back. Because the group is so close, three points would put them in a strong spot to make the knockout rounds.

Probable Lineup: Shobeir; Hany, Fathy, Ibrahim, Fattoh; Lasheen, Attia; Salah, Ashour, Ziko; Marmoush.

New Zealand

New Zealand were genuinely positive against Iran, with Elijah Just the first All White to net twice in a World Cup game and Chris Wood acting as the target man. I think they will drop deeper in this one and try to catch Egypt on the counter via Just and Wood, aware that they were caught out at the back more than once in the opener. Darren Bazeley has no confirmed injuries or bans, so I expect the same core of Boxall and Surman ahead of Crocombe. Being the lowest ranked team in the group, they need something from this game to keep their hopes of qualifying alive going into the last Group Stage fixture.

Probable Lineup: Crocombe; Payne, Surman, Boxall, Cacace; Bell, Stamenic; McCowatt, Singh, Just; Wood.

For me, Salah, Marmoush and Ashour give Egypt far too much quality for the New Zealand back line, and since both sides looked edgy in front of goal after letting leads slip, I see a measured contest rather than an open one. New Zealand will sit deep and Egypt might need patience, yet I fancy them to break through and close it out. My Egypt vs New Zealand call: Egypt 2 New Zealand 0.

BTTS: No (1.64)

Egypt should control the ball and territory against the weakest ranked side in the group, so I expect New Zealand to offer very little in attack. The Pharaohs cut Belgium open time and again in their first match and only poor finishing kept the scoreline down, which is why I am backing BTTS: No at 1.64. It fits nicely with my prediction of a composed Egypt win without conceding.