VANCOUVER - Egypt and New Zealand fans turned up in force at BC Place, filling it with chants and cheers as they competed alongside their favourite players to see who could be the loudest.
The World Cup match ended with a score of 3-1 for the Egyptian team in front of a sold-out crowd of 52,497.
Egypt's supporters appeared to outnumber Kiwi fans in Vancouver, but that didn't faze New Zealand supporter Ross Matthews.Â
Matthews travelled from Wellington, New Zealand, for the match and was thrilled to be able to support his home nation at his first ever in-person World Cup game, noting it's only the third time the country has participated in the tournament.Â
It first appeared to be an underdog story for the Kiwi team, with fans roaring as they took a 1-0 lead after Finn Surman headed in a goal from a corner kick in the 15th minute of play.
But Egyptian fans, who were notably quieter when they were down, came back to life when they tied up the score in the 58th minute and scored another two goals in the second half.Â
It was the third of seven World Cup matches that will be played at BC Place.
Egypt fans have been visible in Vancouver since Friday, with many showing appreciation for their team in online videos showing large crowds gathered at a Vancouver hotel to meet the players, including superstar Mohamed Salah.
When his name was announced as being on the starting lineup about 20 minutes before kickoff, the stadium erupted.
A huge roar again swept through BC Place as Salah put Egypt ahead 2-1 in the 67th minute, and again when he was substituted off the field in the 84th minute.Â
Egypt native Nayef Mahgoub said it was on his bucket list to see Salah play in person, so he travelled from Fort McMurray, Alta., to attend the match.
"He's my favourite player," Mahgoub said. "He's one of the reasons why we are here."
The 61-year-old, who noted he immigrated to Canada about 30 years ago, said it was his first World Cup match and he was elated to experience it alongside his 33-year-old son.Â
"It's good that it came to our backyard here. It was an opportunity that I would never miss," he said.Â
Hayden Burford, a member of New Zealand supporters group The Flying Kiwis, said it's an exciting time for his team.
"Let's get together and just celebrate being Kiwis and celebrate being in a World Cup," Burford said before the match.
Hundreds of fans met in Vancouver's Gastown neighbourhood about two hours before kickoff to begin marching toward to the stadium. Fans, many draped in New Zealand flags, set off white smoke cannisters and flaunted flags and banners that read "Flying Kiwis," while chanting "we will win."
Kaelin Nguyen was among them. He said he wasn't disconcerted by his team being lowest in the FIFA World rankings, deeming it a badge of honour to be considered the underdog.
"We normally are in most sports, except for rugby. It adds a bit more excitement," he said.
Graham Carter was among a small group of New Zealand fans who gathered at The Shipyards in North Vancouver after attending the fan march in downtown Vancouver.Â
He said he immigrated to Canada about 20 years ago and has "never seen so many Kiwis in one place in Vancouver." He said at half-time that it was exciting to be up 1-0 to Egypt.Â
"When you're on the field, somebody has to win and you always have a chance and our players maybe don't have the experience of other teams. But we have a lot of passion and, on the day, you never know what happens."
The next match at BC Place will be on Wednesday. It will see Team Canada, who pulled off a historic 6-0 win over Qatar on Thursday, face Switzerland.
This report by ºÃÉ«tvwas first published June 21, 2026.
