Tuesday Jun 02, 2026. 14:00
Egypt will be appearing at their fourth FIFA World Cup – a surprisingly low number given their status as an African football powerhouse, and the first nation from the continent to appear at the tournament, way back in 1934. The Pharaohs will chase their first-ever World Cup win in Group G matches against Belgium, New Zealand and Iran.
Coached by the legendary Hossam Hassan, Egypt secured their berth by finishing top of Group A in the African qualifiers, going unbeaten in 10 matches against Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, Ethiopia and Djibouti.
Captained by Mohamed Salah, who has just come off a poor final season with Liverpool, the Pharaohs’ key players include veteran goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy, defenders Ramy Rabia and Mohamed Abdelmonem, midfield pivot Hamdy Fathy, maverick playmaker Emam Ashour, and forwards Omar Marmoush, Zizo and Trezeguet.
Nickname: The Pharaohs
Previous World Cup appearances: 3 (1934, 1990, 2018)
Best World Cup performance: Round of 16 (1934)
World Cup record: P7 W0 D2 L5 GF5 GA12
2026 Qualification record: P10 W8 D2 L0 GF20 GA2
2026 World Cup fixtures (Group G, times CAT)
– Belgium v Egypt, Monday 15 June, 21:00
– New Zealand v Egypt, Monday 22 June, 03:00
– Egypt v Iran, Saturday 27 June, 05:00
Head coach: Hossam Hassan
An Egyptian football legend who won three Africa Cup of Nations titles in a playing career that spanned over two decades, Hossam Hassan became the Pharaohs’ coach in early 2024 and successfully guided them to World Cup qualification – despite his penchant for controversies and personal feuds.
Captain: Mohamed Salah
Arguably the greatest player Egypt have ever produced, Mohamed Salah is two just goals short of the all-time Pharaohs scoring record (69, held by coach Hossan Hassan). After underwhelming at the 2018 tournament, Salah will be determined to shine in North America and underline his status as a genuine African football legend.
Key player: Omar Marmoush
With Mohamed Salah burdened by the captaincy and huge weight of expectation, the likes of Omar Marmoush will play a key role in providing additional attacking inspiration. The Manchester City forward is a versatile, agile and intelligent attacker who has all the tools to succeed at the 2026 World Cup.