Egypt’s national football team enters the 2026 World Cup aiming to secure its first-ever tournament victory and reconcile its regional dominance with past global tournament disappointments.
The campaign marks an emotional return for captain Mohamed Salah. During his last World Cup appearance eight years ago in Russia, Salah played through a shoulder injury sustained weeks earlier in the 2018 Champions League final, and Egypt was eliminated after losing all three group matches. Now 33 years old, Salah enters this summer’s tournament having scored nine goals during the qualification phase, setting the all-time African record for World Cup qualifying goals.
Despite winning seven Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) titles—including an unmatched streak of three consecutive championships in the 2000s—Egypt has never won a match or advanced past the group stage across its four previous World Cup appearances.
The Pharaohs secured their qualification for the 2026 tournament in October 2025 in Casablanca, where Salah scored twice against Djibouti. The successful qualification campaign was overseen by head coach Hossam Hassan, Egypt’s all-time leading goal scorer, who played in the country’s 1990 World Cup campaign under manager Mahmoud El-Gohary. Hassan manages the national team alongside his twin brother and assistant coach, Ibrahim.
Following the decisive match in Casablanca, Hassan praised his captain’s impact on the squad. “I had faith in Mohamed Salah… he is of great moral importance to us,” Hassan said.
Hassan’s current roster features a blend of domestic league talent and European-based stars, including Salah and forward Omar Marmoush. Tactically, the team utilizes a compact 4-3-3 formation designed to generate quick transition opportunities. While analysts note the squad lacks the overall depth of continental rivals like Morocco or Senegal, the attacking partnership between Salah and Marmoush remains highly efficient.
Egypt will compete in Group G alongside Iran, New Zealand, and Belgium. The Pharaohs open their World Cup campaign against Belgium on June 15 in Seattle, looking for a positive result to establish momentum in a group viewed by observers as a viable path to the knockout rounds.