The Egyptian Football Association is working to secure an additional friendly match as part of the Egyptian national team’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup. Discussions are currently underway regarding three European teams to play against the Pharaohs before the tournament, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Hossam Hassan’s squad has qualified for the World Cup for the fourth time in its history, and the Egyptians are still searching for their first victory in the global event. To that end, the coach has requested matches against strong European teams to prepare for the highly anticipated tournament.
Egypt is considering three European teams for its final friendly before the 2026 World Cup
According to Egyptian media reports, the Egyptian Football Association is considering three European teams that have offered to play a friendly match before traveling to the United States for the World Cup.
The Pharaohs’ first choice is Poland, which failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after losing to Sweden in the European playoff final.
The other team is Russia, which will also not participate in the World Cup due to FIFA sanctions stemming from the Russian-Ukrainian war.
The final team, and one that seems a more logical opponent, is the Czech Republic, which has qualified for the World Cup and is in Group A alongside South Africa, South Korea, and Mexico.
This friendly match is supposed to take place in Egypt, most likely at the New Administrative Capital Stadium. Afterwards, Mohamed Salah and his teammates will travel to the United States for a friendly against Brazil on June 6th.
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Iraq and Italy out of the running
Meanwhile, the rumors circulating about a possible all-Arab clash between Egypt and Iraq in Cairo or the New Administrative Capital are unfounded.
The same applies to the talk of a potential match between Egypt and Italy. There are currently no offers on the table for Hani Abu Rida’s administration regarding a match against either the Azzurri or the Lions of Mesopotamia.
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Hossam Hassan asks Egyptian fans for patience
In the same context, Hossam Hassan, the coach of the Egyptian national team, made new statements asking Egyptian fans for patience with his experience, emphasizing that the Pharaohs will do everything possible to qualify from the group stage of the upcoming World Cup.
During a meeting with the Youth and Sports Committee of the House of Representatives, Hassan said, “The Egyptian national team represents a great value to all Egyptians, both at home and abroad. The fans’ loyalty to the national team surpasses that of the clubs, and I am happy that the Egyptian national team has become a source of joy for the Egyptian people.”
He added, “We rely on playing strong matches against different footballing styles to raise the level of the players and prepare them optimally for major events. National teams do not develop without strong matches against top teams.”
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Egypt’s Group in the 2026 World Cup
The Egyptian national team will begin its journey in the USA, Canada, and Mexico World Cup with a tough match against Belgium on June 15th. The last time the two teams met was in a friendly in November 2022, prior to the Qatar World Cup, which Egypt won 2-1.
The Egyptian team will then face New Zealand on June 22nd. The final match, scheduled for June 27th, is against Iran, though its participation remains uncertain.
Iran has yet to announce its final position regarding participation in the 2026 World Cup due to the ongoing conflict, although the Iranian national team recently requested that its matches be moved to Mexico.
It is highly likely that Iran will ultimately participate in the World Cup, especially since an agreement to end the US-Iran war is closer than ever.
