Egypt

World Cup 2026 Analysis

The Egypt national football team has successfully qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, securing their spot after an impressive performance in the CAF qualification Group A. This marks their fourth appearance in the World Cup, following their participation in 1934, 1990, and 2018.

2026 World Cup Qualification

Egypt clinched the top position in Group A of the African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. They accumulated 23 points from nine matches, with seven wins and two draws, demonstrating a strong campaign with 19 goals scored and only two conceded. Key victories included a 3-0 win over Djibouti, which officially sealed their qualification with a game to spare. Captain Mohamed Salah was instrumental in their qualification, netting nine goals during the campaign, supported by Mahmoud Trezeguet (five goals) and Ahmed Sayed Zizo (two goals).

Latest Team News and Squad Updates (as of late 2025)

Under the guidance of head coach Hossam Hassan, the Egyptian squad has seen a mix of experienced players and emerging talents. Recent squad announcements for the September and October 2025 World Cup qualifiers against teams like Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Djibouti, and Guinea-Bissau featured a strong contingent of players.

• Goalkeepers: Mohamed El-Shenawy, Mostafa Shouker (or Shobeir), Mohamed Sobhi, and Abdel Aziz El-Blaiouty.
• Defenders: Rami Rabia, Khaled Sobhi, Amr Al-Jazzar, Hossam Abdel-Majeed, Mohamed Rabia, Mohamed Hany, Ahmed Eid, Mohamed Hamdy, Ahmed Nabil Kouka, Yasser Ibrahim.
• Midfielders: Ahmed Nabil Koka, Hamdy Fathy, Nabil Emad Dongha, Marwan Attia, Mahmoud Saber, Mohannad Lashin, Ahmed Sayed Zizo, Mostafa Fathy.
• Forwards: Mohamed Salah, Mahmoud Trezeguet, Omar Marmoush, Ibrahim Adel, Mostafa Mohamed, Osama Faisal.

Key Absences and Injuries:

Several players faced absences due to injury or suspension during the late stages of the qualifiers:

• Omar Marmoush: The Manchester City winger was ruled out of the October 2025 qualifiers due to a knee injury sustained in a match against Burkina Faso in September.
• Hamdy Fathy: Missed matches in September due to a foot injury and was later suspended for a game against Guinea-Bissau after accumulating two yellow cards.
• Marwan Attia: Was suspended for the match against Guinea-Bissau due to yellow card accumulation. He had recently returned to the squad after recovering from a hernia in September.
• Mohamed Abdelmonem and Emam Ashour: Also faced injury setbacks, preventing their participation in some crucial qualifiers.
• Mohamed Elneny, Hussein El Shahat, and Zlaka: Were noted as absent due to injury from Egypt's B national team squad for the 2025 Arab Cup.

2026 World Cup Predictions

With their qualification secured, expectations are high for the Pharaohs. Experts and fans are anticipating Egypt's performance in North America. There is hope that with Mohamed Salah in top form, supported by a blend of experienced players and young talent, Egypt could potentially advance beyond the group stage for the first time in their World Cup history. Their strong defensive record during qualifiers, conceding only two goals and with Mohamed El Shenawy keeping seven clean sheets, suggests a solid foundation. The team's attacking prowess, spearheaded by Salah, Trezeguet, and Marmoush, is also seen as a significant asset.