Egypt has officially revealed its complete roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, consisting of 26 players. This marks the fourth time that the nation has secured a place in the prestigious tournament. Despite making three appearances in the past, Egypt has never triumphed in a World Cup match. Their journey began in 1934, where they advanced to the Round of 16 simply due to the tournament format. The Pharaohs faced early exits in 1990 and 2018, finishing last in their respective groups on both occasions.
Key Players in the Squad
Head coach Hossam Hassan, a former player himself, announced the squad earlier today. The standout figure in the lineup is undoubtedly Mohamed Salah, the renowned Liverpool FC forward. Salah, aged 33, is just a couple of goals shy of becoming Egypt’s all-time leading scorer, a title currently held by his coach, Hossam Hassan. Other notable players on the team include goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy from Al-Ahly, Hamdy Fathy playing for Al-Wakrah, Trézéguet also from Al-Ahly, and Omar Marmoush, who is with Manchester City.
Interestingly, Hassan chose not to include Nantes striker Mostafa Mohamed, instead opting for 18-year-old Hamza Abdelkarim from Barcelona B, who has only featured previously for the under-17 national team. Following a friendly match against Russia on May 28, the team will finalize the 26-man roster by cutting one player, likely among the four goalkeepers included in the squad.
Egypt’s Path to Qualification
Egypt successfully navigated a challenging qualification process for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, competing against teams such as Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, Ethiopia, and Djibouti. The Pharaohs kicked things off with an impressive 6-0 win against Djibouti, featuring an astounding four goals from Salah. Their second and third games saw them triumph over both Sierra Leone and Burkina Faso, with all four goals coming from Trézéguet.
The first hiccup came for Egypt on June 10, 2024, when they drew against Guinea-Bissau while playing away. After that setback, they managed to secure consecutive wins against Ethiopia and Sierra Leone. A win over Burkina Faso in Ouagadougou would have sealed their qualification, but that match ended in a goalless draw. Ultimately, on October 8, 2025, Egypt secured their spot for the World Cup with a 3-0 victory against Djibouti on the road, finishing off their group stage with a win against Guinea-Bissau, thanks to an early goal from Mohamed Hamdy. Salah ended the qualifiers as the top scorer for Egypt with an impressive nine goals.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Matches
Egypt is set to compete in Group G of the tournament, and their first match will take place on June 15 in Seattle against Belgium. Just six days later, the Pharaohs will head to Vancouver, Canada, to face New Zealand. They will conclude their group stage matches back in Seattle with a game against Iran on June 26. The competition rules state that the top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, will advance to the knockout stage.
Upcoming Schedule for Egypt:
- June 15 – Belgium (3 PM EST)
- June 21 – New Zealand (9 PM EST)
- June 26 – Iran (11 PM EST)
Egypt’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup promises to be an exciting journey as they aim to make a mark on the global stage.