Egypt team profile - FIFA World Cup 2026
In the build-up to FIFA World Cup 2026 in USA, Canada and Mexico, we shine a spotlight on Egypt.
FIFA World Ranking: 29
Confederation: CAF
Who is Egypt’s head coach for FIFA World Cup 2026?
Egypt’s head coach for FIFA World Cup 2026 is Hossam Hassan. He has been in charge of the Pharaohs since February 2024 and is their second most-capped player of all time.
Who is Egypt’s captain for FIFA World Cup 2026?
Egypt’s captain for FIFA World Cup 2026 is Mohamed Salah. He has over 110 caps and is the only Egyptian to score in the FIFA World Cup since 1990, having netted both of Egypt’s two goals at FIFA World Cup 2022.
How many times have Egypt participated in a FIFA World Cup before 2026?
3 – 1934, 1990, 2018
What is Egypt’s best performance at a FIFA World Cup?
Round of 16 – 1934 (this World Cup was played between 16 countries in a straight knockout format with Egypt losing 4-2 to Hungary in the first round)
How did Egypt qualify for FIFA World Cup 2026?
Egypt qualified for FIFA World Cup 2026 after finishing top of their group in the first round of CAF qualification. Teams were drawn into nine groups of six with Egypt placed in Group A alongside the likes of Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone and Guinea-Bissau.
After ten group games, Egypt finished on 26 points with eight wins, two draws and no defeats, five points above Burkina Faso in second-place. Only Tunisia ended the round with more points among group winners.
Confirmation of Egypt’s FIFA World Cup qualification came on October 8, 2025 after a 0-3 win against Djibouti in Casablaca. Mohamed Salah scored twice in that game and racked up nine goals overall across qualifying.
Who are Egypt’s star players?
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) has firmly established himself as one of the greatest African footballers of all time and Egypt’s hopes at FIFA World Cup 2026 will largely rest on ‘The Egyptian King’ being at his brilliant best. Salah, an English Premier League and UEFA Champions League winner at Liverpool, boasts a plethora of individual awards to his name. He’s won four Premier League Golden Boots, been named Premier League Player of the Season and African Footballer of the Year twice, as well as winning the FIFA Puskas Award back in 2018.
It would be no surprise to see Salah pass head coach Hossam Hassan’s all-time record of 69 goals for Egypt at FIFA World Cup 2026, adding extra individual motivation for him. Joining Salah as part of the Egyptian attack is Omar Marmoush (Man City), an excellent all-round forward whose 37 goals in 67 appearances for Eintracht Frankfurt earned him a move to Premier League giants Man City in 2024. Marmoush scored twice for the Pharaohs in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Who is in Egypt’s group at FIFA World Cup 2026?
Egypt are in Group G, which consists of the following teams:
Belgium
Egypt
IR Iran
New Zealand
Egypt’s Group G fixtures are as follows:
Belgium vs Egypt: Monday June 15, 2026 – 3:00pm ET, 8:00pm UK
New Zealand vs Egypt: Sunday June 21, 2026 – 9:00pm ET, 2:00am UK (Monday)
Egypt vs IR Iran: Friday June 26, 2026 – 11:00pm ET, 4:00am UK (Saturday)
All kick-off dates are based on a local kick-off time
Where is Egypt’s base camp at FIFA World Cup 2026?
Gonzaga University – Spokane, Washington
Expert prediction for Egypt’s chances at FIFA World Cup 2026
In what is a very competitive Group G, Egypt’s target has to be not just winning a FIFA World Cup fixture for the very first time, but advancing through the group stage, something which they’ve never done before. Consistently one of the stronger African teams across recent years, having Salah at this tournament gives them an edge their rivals such as New Zealand and IR Iran don’t have.
Most importantly though, the supporting cast for Salah is a lot stronger than it was back in 2018. This is a team defensively stronger, with players capable of individual brilliance that could win a tight game. New Zealand in particular, is a fixture that Hassan’s side really should be winning.
The draw has fallen in the favour of Egypt, who would face the second-place finishers in a weak-looking Group D if they were to finish runners-up in their own group, with that spot likely to be a battle between themselves and IR Iran. Semi-finalists in the recent Africa Cup of Nations, this feels like Egypt’s time to break out, especially with Salah and Marmoush leading the charge in attack. If the Pharaohs do get out of their group, it would be no surprise to see them win a knockout game before bowing out.
What round will Egypt reach at FIFA World Cup 2026? Round of 16
