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BRUSSELS (Interstat) — Egypt opens its World Cup campaign Monday against Belgium in a Group A match at King Baudouin Stadium, carrying momentum from a qualifying run that featured five wins in seven games but smarting from a 1-0 loss to Nigeria in January.

The Pharaohs’ lone setback this season came Saturday, Jan. 17, when Nigeria capitalized on a second-half penalty in a match that saw Egypt dominate possession but fail to convert chances. That defeat snapped a four-match winning streak that included a 3-2 victory over Cote d’Ivoire on Jan. 10 and a 3-1 win at Benin on Jan. 5.

Egypt’s qualifying form has been built on defensive solidity. The team has kept clean sheets in five of its past seven outings, including a 0-0 draw at Burkina Faso on Sept. 9 and a 2-0 victory over Ethiopia on Sept. 5. The attack has produced 10 goals during that stretch, with striker Mohamed Salah scoring in three consecutive matches before the Nigeria loss.

Belgium enters the tournament as one of the world’s top-ranked teams, though the Red Devils have not played a competitive match since the 2022 World Cup. Their last official fixture before this tournament was a friendly on Jan. 1, 1970 — an odd scheduling gap observers say reflects the team’s choice to focus on training camps.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 1-0 victory for Egypt, citing the Pharaohs’ recent form and Belgium’s lack of match rhythm.

Both teams face a challenging group stage. After Monday’s opener, Egypt travels to face New Zealand on June 21, then meets Iran on June 26. Belgium’s path is identical in reverse: Iran on June 21 and New Zealand on June 26.

Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. local time. The match will be broadcast globally.