In preparation for the World Cup, the Egyptian national team arrives in Jeddah to face Saudi Arabia

The Pharaohs' delegation arrives in Saudi Arabia

The Egyptian national football team, led by head coach Hossam Hassan, arrived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday. This visit is part of their intensive preparations for a high-profile friendly match against the Saudi national team, known as "Al-Akhdar" (The Green), scheduled for next Friday.

All eyes of football fans across the Arab world will be on King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, known as "The Shining Jewel," in Jeddah, where kickoff is scheduled for 8:30 PM Mecca and Cairo time. This match is of paramount importance, not only because it is an Arab derby between two giants of African and Asian football, but also because it is a crucial preparatory match for both teams as they gear up for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Historical context and importance of the Arab confrontation

Historically, matches between Egypt and Saudi Arabia have always been characterized by competitiveness, excitement, and high sportsmanship. Fans fondly recall past official and friendly encounters between the two teams, most notably their clash in the 1999 Confederations Cup and their group stage match at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. This historical legacy makes the upcoming friendly a true test of the players' technical and physical readiness. It also strengthens the close sporting ties between the two brotherly nations and guarantees significant public and media attention at both the local and regional levels.

The absence of star Mohamed Salah is a significant blow

On the technical front, the Egyptian national team's coaching staff faces a significant challenge with the absence of their star player and captain, Mohamed Salah, the Liverpool winger. This forced absence comes after the "Egyptian Pharaoh" sustained an injury while playing for his club in the crucial Champions League round of 16 second leg against Galatasaray. Despite the impact of this absence, it presents coach Hossam Hassan with a golden opportunity to experiment with new players and prepare capable replacements to fill the void in upcoming official matches.

Egypt's squad list for the match against Saudi Arabia

The coaching staff announced the official squad that will play in this match, which includes a mix of experienced and young players, and is as follows:

• Goalkeepers: Mohamed El Shenawy, Mostafa Shobeir, El Mahdi Soliman, and Mohamed Awad.
• Defense line: Mohamed Hany, Tarek Alaa, Ramy Rabia, Mohamed Abdelmonem, Yasser Ibrahim, Hossam Abdelmagid, Khaled Sobhi, Ahmed Fatouh, and Ahmed Nabil “Koka”.
• Midfielders: Hamdi Fathi, Marwan Attia, Mohannad Lasheen, Mahmoud Saber, Ahmed Sayed “Zizo”, Emam Ashour, Mahmoud Hassan “Trezeguet”, Omar Marmoush, Ibrahim Adel, Haitham Hassan, and Islam Issa.
• Attack line: Mostafa Mohamed and Nasser Mansi.

This match represents an ideal opportunity for both teams to correct mistakes and implement new tactical plans, which will positively impact their journey towards achieving the dream of qualifying for the World Cup and bringing joy to the Arab fans who are passionate about football.