Hossam Hassan named his Egypt World Cup Squad 2026 on May 30, with Mohamed Salah confirmed as captain. The Liverpool forward turns 34 on June 15, the same day Egypt open against Belgium in Seattle. The Pharaohs are back at the World Cup for the first time since 2018, and Salah leads the charge.
Egypt return as one of Africa’s heavyweights, ranked 29th in the world. Salah heads an attack that also features Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush. Eight players come from Egyptian champions Al Ahly, giving the squad a strong domestic spine. This is Egypt’s fourth World Cup, and Hossam Hassan wants a first-ever knockout run.
This is your full Egypt World Cup Squad 2026 list, schedule, and key player breakdown for the 2026 tournament.
Egypt 26-Player Squad for World Cup 2026
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| GK | Mohamed El Shenawy | Al Ahly |
| GK | Mostafa Shobeir | Al Ahly |
| GK | El Mahdy Soliman | Zamalek |
| GK | Mohamed Alaa | El Gouna |
| DF | Mohamed Hany | Al Ahly |
| DF | Tarek Alaa | ZED FC |
| DF | Hamdy Fathy | Al-Wakrah |
| DF | Ramy Rabia | Al Ain |
| DF | Yasser Ibrahim | Al Ahly |
| DF | Hossam Abdelmaguid | Zamalek |
| DF | Mohamed Abdelmonem | OGC Nice |
| DF | Ahmed Fatouh | Zamalek |
| DF | Karim Hafez | Pyramids FC |
| MF | Marwan Attia | Al Ahly |
| MF | Mohanad Lasheen | Pyramids FC |
| MF | Nabil Emad (Donga) | Al Najma |
| MF | Mahmoud Saber | ZED FC |
| MF | Zizo | Al Ahly |
| MF | Trézéguet | Al Ahly |
| MF | Emam Ashour | Al Ahly |
| MF | Mostafa Ziko | Pyramids FC |
| MF | Ibrahim Adel | FC Nordsjælland |
| MF | Haissem Hassan | Real Oviedo |
| MF | Mohamed Salah (C) | Liverpool |
| FW | Omar Marmoush | Manchester City |
| FW | Hamza Abdelkarim | Barcelona Atlètic (on loan from Al Ahly) |
(C) = captain. Squad as confirmed on May 30, 2026.
For all 48 teams’ rosters, see our World Cup 2026 squads tracker.
Quick Stats
Here’s a snapshot of the Egypt World Cup Squad 2026 numbers heading into Group G.
- Average age: around 29 years
- Captain and talisman: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
- Top scorer in the squad: Mohamed Salah (67 international goals, second on Egypt’s all-time list)
- Top qualifying scorer: Mohamed Salah (9 goals in CAF qualifying)
- Al Ahly players: 8 (El Shenawy, Shobeir, Hany, Yasser Ibrahim, Attia, Zizo, Trézéguet, Ashour)
- Foreign-based players: 9 (including Salah, Marmoush, and Abdelmonem)
- Youngest player: Hamza Abdelkarim, 18 (on loan at Barcelona Atlètic)
- Oldest player: Mohamed El Shenawy, 37
Key Players to Watch
Mohamed Salah (C) | Liverpool
Salah is the captain and the reason Egypt are here. He scored nine goals in qualifying, more than any other player in the group. His 67 international goals sit second on Egypt’s all-time list. He turns 34 on the day Egypt face Belgium, and this is likely his last World Cup. Everything runs through him.
Omar Marmoush | Manchester City
Marmoush gives Egypt a second genuine threat in the final third. The Manchester City forward brings pace, movement, and the ability to play off Salah or through the middle. He found the net in qualifying and offers Hossam Hassan a way to stretch defences that try to crowd out the captain.
Trézéguet | Al Ahly
Trézéguet was Egypt’s other qualifying hero. He scored braces against both Ethiopia and Burkina Faso during the campaign. The winger cuts inside from the right, drives at defenders, and chips in with goals. He gives the attack balance when teams double up on Salah out wide.
Mohamed Abdelmonem | OGC Nice
Abdelmonem anchors the back line and is one of few squad members playing in a major European league. The Nice centre-back is strong in the air and reads danger early. Egypt conceded just two goals in 10 qualifiers, and his composure was a big reason for that record.
Mohamed El Shenawy | Al Ahly
El Shenawy is the elder statesman at 37 and Egypt’s first-choice goalkeeper. He’s won multiple CAF Champions League titles with Al Ahly and brings calm to a young defensive group. His shot-stopping and command of the box will be tested hard against Belgium’s attack.
Hamza Abdelkarim | Barcelona Atlètic
The 18-year-old is the bolt from the blue in this squad. He’s on loan at Barcelona Atlètic from Al Ahly and earned his call-up after impressing at youth level. Hossam Hassan picked him ahead of Nantes striker Mostafa Mohamed, a clear signal of faith in the teenager’s ceiling.
Egypt World Cup 2026 Schedule
Egypt play all three Group G matches on the West Coast, split between Seattle and Vancouver. Kick-off times below are in Eastern Time (ET) and Eastern European Time (EET) for fans back home.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Kickoff (ET) | Kickoff (EET) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 15 | Belgium | Seattle Stadium (Lumen Field), Seattle | 3:00 PM | 9:00 PM |
| June 21 | New Zealand | Vancouver Stadium (BC Place), Vancouver | 9:00 PM | 3:00 AM (Jun 22) |
| June 26 | Iran | Seattle Stadium (Lumen Field), Seattle | 11:00 PM | 5:00 AM (Jun 27) |
All times follow the official FIFA match schedule confirmed at the December 5, 2025 draw. Egyptian fans get a friendly evening kick-off for the Belgium opener, then two late-night watches for New Zealand and Iran. Before the tournament, Egypt beat Russia 1-0 on May 28 and close their warm-ups against Brazil on June 6 in Ohio. Check the full 2026 World Cup schedule for all 104 match times and venues.
How Egypt Qualified for World Cup 2026
Egypt won CAF Group A, sharing it with Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, Ethiopia, and Djibouti. They opened with a 6-0 home rout of Djibouti, with Salah scoring four. The Pharaohs went unbeaten across all 10 matches, finishing with eight wins and two draws. FIFA highlighted Salah’s qualifying impact as the driving force of the campaign.
The only blemishes were a 1-1 draw away to Guinea-Bissau and a goalless stalemate in Ouagadougou against Burkina Faso. Egypt sealed their ticket on October 8, 2025, with a 3-0 win away at Djibouti. They finished top on 26 points, scoring 20 goals and conceding just two. No team in the group defended better.
Salah ended as the group’s leading scorer with nine goals. Trézéguet and Ibrahim Adel chipped in with important strikes during the run. That mix of a world-class finisher and a mean defence is the platform Egypt carry into Group G.
Head Coach: Hossam Hassan
Hossam Hassan is an Egyptian football icon and the country’s all-time leading scorer. He took charge of the Pharaohs in February 2024 and guided them through an unbeaten qualifying campaign. Few coaches understand the weight of the Egypt shirt better, having worn it for two decades as a striker.
His Egypt are built on a solid defensive block and quick transitions that release Salah and Marmoush. Hassan leans on the Al Ahly core for structure and trusts a small group of Europe-based players to raise the level. He didn’t shy from bold calls, picking 18-year-old Hamza Abdelkarim over a more established striker.
The pressure on him is clear. Egypt have never reached the World Cup knockout rounds, and Hassan carries the hopes of a football-obsessed nation. He wants this group, in Salah’s likely final tournament, to rewrite that record.
Group G at a Glance
Egypt sit in Group G with Belgium, Iran, and New Zealand. The full Group G standings and fixture tracker is on our groups page.
| Team | FIFA Ranking | World Cup Appearances | Best Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 9 | 15th | Third place (2018) |
| Iran | 21 | 7th | Group stage |
| Egypt | 29 | 4th | First round (1934) |
| New Zealand | 85 | 3rd | Group stage (1982, 2010) |
All rankings are per the April 1, 2026 official FIFA update, with the next update due June 9, 2026. Belgium are the clear group favourites and top seeds. Iran are tough, organised, and back for a third straight World Cup. New Zealand are the lowest ranked side and the team Egypt must beat. A top-two finish or a strong third place is the realistic target for the Pharaohs.
FAQ about Egypt World Cup Squad 2026
What is Egypt’s national team nickname?
Egypt are known as the Pharaohs, a nod to the country’s ancient rulers. The name is used across Egyptian football and is one of the most recognisable nicknames in African football. The team’s colours are red, white, and black.
Has Egypt ever won a World Cup match?
No. Egypt have appeared at three previous World Cups, in 1934, 1990, and 2018, without a single win. They lost their 1934 opener to Hungary and finished bottom of their group in both 1990 and 2018. A first World Cup victory is the immediate goal in 2026.
How many Africa Cup of Nations titles has Egypt won?
Egypt have won the Africa Cup of Nations a record seven times, more than any other nation. Their most recent title came in 2010, when they completed a hat-trick of trophies. That pedigree makes them one of the continent’s most successful sides.
Has Egypt ever beaten Belgium before?
Yes. Egypt beat Belgium 2-1 in a friendly in 2022, their most recent meeting. The two sides have met four times in total. The June 15 group opener in Seattle will be their first competitive fixture at a World Cup.
Egypt’s World Cup 2026 Hopes
The Egypt World Cup Squad 2026 blends a world-class captain, a strong Al Ahly core, and a mean defence that conceded just twice in qualifying. Salah and Marmoush give them firepower most groups would respect. This isn’t a deep squad of European stars, but it’s organised, experienced, and dangerous on the break.
The path starts with New Zealand, the match Egypt are expected to win. A result against Iran could then decide second place behind Belgium. Egypt have never gone beyond the group stage, so reaching the round of 32 would be history. With Salah leading what’s likely his final World Cup, the Pharaohs could finally break their drought.
