This article is part of The Guardian’s World Cup 2026 Expert Network, a cooperation between some of the best media organizations from the 48 countries that qualified. theguardian.com publishes previews from three countries each day in the run-up to the tournament which begins on June 11.
the plan
Egypt qualified undefeated for the World Cup after missing Qatar 2022, booking its ticket to North America with one game to spare. They scored 19 goals in nine games, with Mohamed Salah leading the scoreboard with nine, conceding two goals and keeping seven clean sheets. Despite impressive numbers in qualifying, Egypt’s form is more pragmatic than romantic and they carried that same muscle memory into the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations: tight games, deep stretches without the ball, quick throws towards Salah or Omar Marmoush. This was evident with the defeat in the semifinals against Senegal, when Egypt was more prepared to endure than to control.
Egypt will likely start the World Cup with a 4-3-3 formation that becomes a 4-2-3-1 when they have to chase a match, while occasionally switching to a 3-5-2 against high blocks. Mohamed El-Shenawy is likely to start in goal, although Mostafa Shobeir has been giving the veteran a run for his money lately. The rest of the column looks solid with Rami Rabia and Hossam Abdelmaguid or Yasser Ibrahim in central defense. Marwan Attia and Hamdi Fathi will protect the backline and Emam Ashour will look to deliver the ball to the attacking trio.
Quick guide
Egypt: Group G matches
Show
June 15 v Belgium, Seattle (local midday, 8pm BST, June 16 at 5am AEST)
June 21 v New Zealand, Vancouver (6:00 pm local, June 22 at 2 am BST, June 22 at 11 am AEST)
June 26 v Iran, Seattle (8pm local, June 27 at 4am BST, June 27 at 1pm AEST)
Coach Hossam Hassan has effectively confirmed that there will be no late tactical revolution, saying he has decided on “90%” of the team. It also presents the team as “100% locally made” compared to its African rivals who feature European-born players. “Hossam Hassan is completely different from the foreign coaches we have had before,” says striker Ahmed “Zizo” Sayed. “He manages to convince you that you are the best player in the world, even if you come to camp not in good shape.”
Egypt are cohesive, often difficult to score against and emotionally compromised, but can still look forceful if opponents attack Salah and the midfield cannot get through the press. The draw placed Egypt in Group G with Belgium, Iran and New Zealand. Egypt has never won a World Cup match, so finishing that is the goal at the field level.
the coach
Hossam Hassan He is the national team’s all-time leading scorer and a legend of Egyptian football. As a manager, the fanfare is considerably quieter. In nine clubs and two national teams, he has not won any trophies. His appointment in 2024 had a nationalist tone from day one. When Egypt qualified for the World Cup, he declared: “We are happy for this great day for Egyptian football and for pleasing the Egyptian people, led by Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. [president of Egypt].”
After the 2025 Afcon semi-final exit, Hassan blamed the loss on mosquito-infested hotels and scheduling conspiracies before resorting to blood and soil nationalism. “Egypt is the mother of the Arabs and of Africa. Nobody has the history that we have. We won the African Cup seven times. This creates jealousy. Nobody will achieve what the Egyptian national team achieved.” When pressed by a journalist about his tactical shortcomings, Hassan replied: “Your questions are impolite and do not show respect. I will not answer you. You lack media etiquette.” It was recognizable in the brand.
star player
This is still Mohamed SalahThe team, although the club version has entered a more deadly phase. For Egypt, he remains the attacking system and emotional infrastructure. In qualifying, he was decisive again, scoring two goals in the match that clinched the World Cup spot and was the main reason why Egypt’s campaign did not require drama at the end. Salah turns 34 on the same day that the Pharaohs play their first group stage match. He is nearing the end of his international career and is keenly aware that this may be his last chance to change that.
one to watch
FC Nordsjælland Ibrahim Adela He is not a pure wide winger: he attacks the half-space, reaches the far post and presses with more appetite than many Egyptian attackers raised on a diet of counterattacks. The case of the 25-year-old young man is based on the movement. He may not start every game, but tactically he offers something Egypt needs: a wide threat capable of carrying the ball into the final third independently of Salah, reducing the team’s dependence on a single right-side channel. This tournament could cement him as a genuine option at this level, but it could also reveal his limitations.
unsung hero
Marwan Attia He’s the type of midfielder who makes the entire team look a little more coherent than it is. The 27-year-old blocks centre-backs, covers full-backs, kills counterattacks, restarts attacks, receives awkward passes under pressure and gives Emam Ashour and the wide players permission to move forward. After qualifying, Attia spoke of the World Cup as a source of immense pride and the current generation’s potential to achieve positive results, especially “securing Egypt’s first World Cup victory.”
Probable starting eleven
What to expect from fans?
Egyptian support will be present, but it will not be socially representative. The reality is that the vast majority of Egyptians will watch it from their homes or in cafes, with a phone screen propped up against a cup of tea if necessary. North America is not as close as Qatar and Egypt is not part of a visa waiver program. The $185 (£137) visa application fee alone exceeds Egypt’s current minimum wage ($132), not counting flights, hotels or tickets. Expect diaspora families, wealthier Cairons, corporate guests and expats. The Ultras, historically the most visible and vocal force in Egyptian football, have been systematically repressed since 2013, banned as terrorist organizations and many of them are in prison.
Relationship with the United States/Trump?
The team and the EFA are not publicly pro- or anti-American; However, the state relationship is more revealing. With Donald Trump as president, Cairo has generally received warmth and fewer lectures about human rights. In his first term, Trump infamously called Sisi his “favorite dictator,” while his second administration kept Egypt, along with Israel, as an exception in a broader freeze on foreign aid.
The Egyptian president returned the praise, saying that Trump “is the only one capable of bringing peace to the region.” In particular, the climax of the World Cup is more cultural than diplomatic. The EFA formally asked FIFA to block LGBTQ+ pride activities around Egypt and Iran in Seattle, saying they clashed with cultural and religious values. The two countries have objected to the locally branded Pride match, which coincides with Pride weekend in the city and was planned before the tournament draw took place.
Written by Saher Ahmed for Kingfut.com