Ashour’s 123.4 kph Strike Sets 2026 FWC Opening-Round Ball Speed Record

Egypt midfielder Emam Ashour has earned a place among the early standout performers of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after scoring the fastest goal recorded in the opening round of the group stage. 

According to data from Adidas’ Connected Ball technology, Ashour’s strike against Belgium traveled at 123.4 kph, making it the quickest shot to result in a goal so far in the tournament and placing him ahead of stars such as Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé in the speed rankings.

Egypt's Emam Ashour has produced the fastest (in terms of ball speed) goal at the World Cup so far, adidas have confirmed using their TRIONDA connected ball technology 😮‍💨💨🇪🇬 pic.twitter.com/ZJw1fvaTSp

— OneFootball (@OneFootball) June 23, 2026

Ashour’s effort came in Egypt’s opening Group G clash with Belgium, a match that ended in a valuable 1-1 draw for the Pharaohs. 

After receiving the ball from captain Mohamed Salah, the midfielder unleashed a powerful long-range shot to put Egypt ahead and produce one of the most memorable moments of the opening round. 

The goal was Ashour’s first on the World Cup stage and capped an impressive all-round display that earned him the Michelob Ultra Superior Player of the Match award, voted for by supporters.

The 28-year-old arrived at the tournament with a strong reputation after winning domestic titles and the CAF Champions League with Al Ahly, and he is already proving to be a major figure in Egypt’s campaign. 

With Group G still wide open after both first-round matches ended level, Egypt now turn their attention to crucial games against New Zealand and Iran as they pursue a first appearance in the knockout stage since the 1990 World Cup.