Hossam Hassan reveals the initial list of the "Pharaohs" for the 2026 World Cup
The coach of the Egyptian national team, Hossam Hassan, announced the preliminary list of the Pharaohs participating in the 2026 World Cup, which is scheduled to start on the 11th of next month, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The list witnessed a striking surprise represented by the exclusion of the French striker Mustafa Mohamed, in exchange for the inclusion of the young striker Hamza Abdel Karim of Barcelona, along with Aktay Abdallah, the striker of Enbi.
The Egyptian Football Federation explained in an official statement that the list includes 27 players, and that it will be reduced to 26 players after the friendly match against Russia, scheduled for May 28 , as part of the final preparations for the World Cup.
Preliminary List
Goalkeepers: Mohamed El-Shenawy, Mustafa Shoubert, Al-Mahdi Suleiman, Mohamed Alaa.
Defenders: Mohamed Hani, Tarek Alaa, Hamdi Fathy, Rami Rabia, Yasser Ibrahim, Hossam Abdel Magid, Mohamed Abdel Moneim, Ahmed Fattouh, Karim Hafez.
Midfielders: Marwan Attia, Mohannad Lashin, Nabil Emad Dunga, Mahmoud Saber, Ahmed Sayed Zizou, Imam Ashour, Mustafa Abdel Raouf "Ziko", Mahmoud Trezeguet, Ibrahim Adel, Haitham Hassan, Mohamed Salah.
Forwards: Omar Marmoush, Aktay Abdullah, Hamza Abdel Karim.
Egypt in a fiery group
Egypt is in Group G of the 2026 World Cup, where it faces Belgium, New Zealand and Iran in three matches between the United States and Canada, and its first match against Belgium starts on Monday, June 15 at 10 p.m. Cairo time at Lumen Field Stadium – Seattle (United States), and in its second match, it faces New Zealand, on Monday, June 22 at 4 a.m. at BC Place Stadium – Vancouver (Canada).
The third game will be against Iran, Saturday, June 27 at 6 a.m. at Lumen Field – Seattle (USA)
Egypt qualified for the World Cup 4 times (1934 – 1990 – 2018 – 2026), and played 7 matches in the previous participations without achieving any win, settling for two draws and 5 defeats, with goals signed by Abdel Rahman Fawzy, Magdy Abdel Ghani and Mohamed Salah.