Clashes are said to have broken out as fans flooded the field seconds after the game in the northern coastal city of Port Said finished.
There were reports of rocks, bottles, flares and fireworks being thrown as politicians in the country criticised a lack of security at the match.
Doctors treating the victims said some had been stabbed to death. One player caught up in the rioting described it as "a war".
Troops have now been deployed on the streets and dozens of people have been arrested.
One player likened the scenes in Port Said to 'war'
Witnesses said most of the deaths involved people who had been trampled in the crush of panicked crowds, or who fell from terraces.
Deputy health minister Hesham Sheiha told state television: "This is unfortunate and deeply saddening. It is the biggest disaster in Egypt's soccer history."
Fans of the home team, Al Masry, swarmed the field after a rare 3-1 win against Al Ahly, one of Egypt's top teams.
Khalil Fahmy, Sky News Arabia correspondent, said police had been heavily criticised for doing nothing to intervene at the ground.
He said: "Many people were crying for help, for police or army intervention. They spent almost an hour without any army or police protection - this resulted in the bad injuries of hundreds of people.
"Most of the dead were killed by head injuries."
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