Hossam Hassan announces Egypt's squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers... Salah leads the Pharaohs
Egypt's national team coach, Captain Hossam Hassan, announced the final squad that will compete in the third and fourth rounds of the African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. The Pharaohs are preparing for two crucial matches in their journey towards achieving their dream of reaching the World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
General context: High ambitions for the 2026 World Cup
Egyptian fans are pinning their hopes on this generation of players, led by the legendary Hossam Hassan, to return to the world's biggest football tournament. These qualifiers come at a crucial time, as the Egyptian national team seeks to solidify its lead in its group and secure qualification for the fourth time in its history, following previous appearances in 1934, 1990, and 2018. Adding to the significance of these qualifiers is the fact that the 2026 edition will feature 48 teams for the first time, opening up greater opportunities for African teams to compete on the international stage.
A balanced list combining experience and youth
The 26-man squad saw the exclusion of Enppi player Aktai Abdullah, who was initially included in the preliminary list. The squad blends international experience, spearheaded by Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, Mahmoud Hassan "Trezeguet," and Mohamed El Shenawy, with promising young talents from the domestic league and those playing abroad. Hossam Hassan aims to create a cohesive unit capable of executing his tactical plans and achieving the desired results in upcoming matches.
The complete list of the Egyptian national team:
- Goalkeepers: Mohamed El Shenawy, Mostafa Shobeir, El Mahdi Soliman, Mohamed Alaa.
- Defense line: Mohamed Hany, Tarek Alaa, Hamdi Fathi, Ramy Rabia, Yasser Ibrahim, Hossam Abdel-Maguid, Mohamed Abdel-Moneim, Ahmed Fatouh, Karim Hafez.
- Midfielders: Marwan Attia, Mohannad Lasheen, Nabil Emad “Dunga”, Mahmoud Saber, Ahmed Sayed “Zizo”, Emam Ashour, Mostafa Abdel Raouf “Zico”, Mahmoud Hassan “Trezeguet”, Ibrahim Adel, Haitham Hassan, Mohamed Salah.
- Attack line: Omar Marmoush, Hamza Abdelkarim.
The importance and expected impact of the current phase
The announcement of this squad represents a significant step in the national team's journey under the leadership of Hossam Hassan, who recently took charge. The Egyptian sporting community eagerly awaits seeing the impact of "The Dean" (Hassan's nickname) on the team's performance, especially in official matches. Achieving positive results in the next two rounds will not only boost qualification chances but also restore confidence to the players and fans, and solidify the stability of the coaching staff. Regionally, the strength of the Egyptian national team remains a key indicator of the level of competition in African and Arab football, as the Pharaohs are consistently considered one of the continent's major footballing powers, a force to be reckoned with.
