Egypt World Cup 2026 Squad: Final 26-Player List
Mohamed Salah turns 34 on June 15, 2026. That same date, Egypt kick off their World Cup campaign against Belgium in Seattle. The timing is a coincidence, but it feels fitting. Salah’s international career has built toward moments like this, and Egypt’s World Cup 2026 squad reflects the weight of that.
Egypt confirmed their final 26-man squad on May 29, 2026, under head coach Hossam Hassan. The Pharaohs qualified as unbeaten CAF Group A winners.
They arrive at their fourth World Cup with Premier League firepower up front and a disciplined domestic base providing the structure behind it.
Egypt Quick Facts:
- Country: Arab Republic of Egypt
- Confederation: CAF
- Nickname: The Pharaohs
- Head Coach: Hossam Hassan
- Captain: Mohamed Salah
- Group: Group G
- Group Opponents: Belgium, New Zealand, Iran
- First Match: June 15 vs Belgium, Seattle Stadium, 3:00 PM ET
- Last Group Match: June 26 vs Iran, Seattle Stadium, 11:00 PM ET
- World Cup Appearance: Fourth
- Kit Manufacturer: Puma
Egypt Squad List for World Cup 2026
Goalkeepers (4)
- Mohamed El Shenawy, 37, Al Ahly
- Mostafa Shobier, Al Ahly
- El Mahdy Soliman, Zamalek
- Mohamed Alaa, El Gouna
Defenders (9)
- Mohamed Hany, 30, Al Ahly
- Yasser Ibrahim, Al Ahly
- Tarek Alaa, Zed
- Hossam Abdelmaguid, 24, Zamalek
- Ahmed Fatouh, Zamalek
- Karim Hafez, Pyramids
- Rami Rabia, Al Ain (UAE)
- Hamdy Fathy, Al Wakrah (Qatar)
- Mohamed Abdelmonem, OGC Nice (France)
Midfielders (7)
- Emam Ashour, 28, Al Ahly
- Marwan Attia, Al Ahly
- Ahmed Sayed Zizo, Al Ahly
- Mohannad Lasheen, Pyramids
- Mostafa Abdelraouf Ziko, Pyramids
- Mahmoud Saber, Zed
- Nabil Emad Donga, Al Najma (Bahrain)
Forwards (6)
- Mohamed Salah (C), 33, Liverpool (England)
- Omar Marmoush, 27, Manchester City (England)
- Mahmoud Trezeguet, 31, Al Ahly
- Ibrahim Adel, 25, FC Nordsjaelland (Denmark)
- Haitham Hassan, 24, Real Oviedo (Spain)
- Hamza Abdelkarim, 18, Barcelona Atlètic (Spain), on loan from Al Ahly
Fixtures
Egypt play all three group stage matches in the United States and Canada. Local kick-off times are listed in Eastern Time (ET) and Egypt Eastern Time (EET) for fans back home.
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (ET) | Time (EET) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 15, 2026 | Egypt vs Belgium | Seattle Stadium, Seattle | 3:00 PM | 9:00 PM |
| June 21, 2026 | Egypt vs New Zealand | Vancouver Stadium, Vancouver | 9:00 PM | 3:00 AM (+1) |
| June 26, 2026 | Egypt vs Iran | Seattle Stadium, Seattle | 11:00 PM | 5:00 AM (+1) |
The top two teams advance automatically to the Round of 32. The eight best third-placed sides also advance. New Zealand is Egypt’s most winnable fixture. The Belgium opener sets the tone. Iran’s late kick-off on June 26 is the wildcard that could decide whether Egypt make history in the knockout stage.
Manager: Hossam Hassan
Hossam Hassan was appointed Egypt head coach in February 2024. As a player, he is Egypt’s all-time leading scorer with 69 international goals from 177 appearances. He won the Africa Cup of Nations three times, in 1986, 1998, and 2006. His reputation as one of the greatest Egyptian players ever gave him immediate authority in the role.
Egypt won eight of 10 qualifying matches under Hassan, conceding just two goals and finishing Group A with 26 points. Salah’s nine qualifying goals led the charge. Hassan prefers a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 with Salah as the press trigger. Egypt defend compactly and break with pace, a system he has drilled with clear consistency.
Star Player: Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah is 33 and plays as a right winger or inside forward for Liverpool. He is Egypt’s captain and their most important player by some margin. A hamstring injury ended his Liverpool season early in April 2026, but Egypt’s national team director confirmed Salah will be fit in time for the June 15 opener against Belgium. The 2025-26 season was his final year at Anfield.
Salah has scored 67 goals across 115 appearances for Egypt. He is two goals from equalling Hossam Hassan’s all-time national record. He is the leading scorer in CAF World Cup qualifying history, having netted nine times in this qualifying campaign alone. He also passed 250 career goals for Liverpool during the 2025-26 season.
In this squad, Salah is the main attacking reference and penalty taker. His pressing sets the team’s defensive triggers. Egypt don’t have the depth to cover for him if he drops below his best. The birthday coincidence on match day one is a nice story, but what Egypt genuinely need is Salah fit and decisive from minute one against Belgium.
Key Players to Watch
Hamza Abdelkarim
Hamza Abdelkarim is 18 and plays for Barcelona Atlètic in Spain on loan from Al Ahly. He is the youngest player in Egypt’s squad. His inclusion in the final 26 drew attention across Egyptian football. Spending the season in one of Europe’s most demanding development environments has pushed his growth significantly ahead of schedule.
He’s a direct winger who creates through individual dribbling and presses high from the front. Abdelkarim won’t start regularly at this tournament, but his energy off the bench gives Hassan a useful weapon late in games. At 18, this World Cup is the beginning of something rather than a peak.
Omar Marmoush
Omar Marmoush is 27 and plays for Manchester City in the Premier League. He was among Europe’s most dangerous forwards across the last two seasons. His ability to operate centrally or wide gives Hossam Hassan genuine flexibility when setting up the attack for different opponents.
Alongside Salah, Marmoush creates Egypt’s most dangerous two-man combination at any World Cup. His pressing, finishing, and link-up play all operate at the standard required at this level. Defenders who focus entirely on Salah will leave room for Marmoush. That partnership is Egypt’s biggest tactical weapon in Group G.
Mohamed El Shenawy
Mohamed El Shenawy is 37 and Egypt’s most experienced goalkeeper. He has made over 400 appearances for Al Ahly and served as the Pharaohs’ first-choice keeper for more than a decade. His shot-stopping and reading of the game remain sharp. He played the 2018 World Cup while carrying a knee injury, which says a great deal about his character.
Egypt’s defensive block needs a commanding presence behind it. El Shenawy provides that and brings CAF Champions League final experience. In tight group matches, one significant save can shift momentum. His ability to deliver in those moments could prove as important to Egypt’s chances as anything happening further up the pitch.
Qualification Path & World Cup History
Egypt qualified through CAF Group A without losing a match. They played 10 games, won eight, and drew two, scoring 20 goals and conceding just two. The plus-18 goal difference was one of the best defensive records in African qualifying. Salah broke the all-time CAF World Cup qualifying scoring record with nine goals across the campaign.
Egypt have appeared at the World Cup three times before 2026. Their 1934 debut made them the first African and Arab nation to compete at a FIFA World Cup. They returned in 1990 and 2018. The all-time record across those tournaments is played seven, won zero, drawn two, lost five. The 2018 campaign under Hector Cuper ended in three defeats, despite Salah scoring from the spot against Russia.
What to Expect & Our Prediction
Egypt’s 4-3-3 uses Salah on the right and Marmoush centrally as the two main attacking threats. The defensive mid-block is disciplined, and the transitions are fast when possession is won. The central midfield is the clear weakness. Egypt’s domestic midfielders haven’t faced Belgium-level opposition, and that gap could be exposed in the opener.
Egypt should beat New Zealand and are capable of taking points off Iran. A point against Belgium is achievable if Salah is sharp from the first whistle. The realistic prediction is second place in Group G and a first-ever knockout stage appearance, an outcome that would represent a genuine step forward in Egyptian football history. This prediction reflects the opinion of WCW Staff and not a guaranteed outcome.
Egypt World Cup 2026 Squad FAQs
Who is the youngest player in Egypt’s 2026 World Cup squad?
Hamza Abdelkarim is the youngest at 18. He plays for Barcelona Atlètic on loan from Al Ahly. His call-up was one of the most surprising selections in the announcement and marks him as a significant young talent going into Egypt’s future.
How many Egypt players are based outside Egypt?
Nine of Egypt’s 26 players are based at clubs outside Egypt. The group includes Salah and Marmoush in England, Abdelmonem at OGC Nice in France, Haitham Hassan at Real Oviedo in Spain, Ibrahim Adel at FC Nordsjaelland in Denmark, and Rami Rabia at Al Ain in the UAE.
How many international goals has Mohamed Salah scored?
Salah has scored 67 goals in 115 appearances for Egypt as of May 2026. He is two goals away from Hossam Hassan’s all-time national record of 69. He is also the top scorer in CAF World Cup qualifying history, having set the record across the 2026 campaign.
What is Egypt’s all-time World Cup record?
Egypt’s all-time World Cup record is played seven, won zero, drawn two, lost five. The two draws came at the 1990 World Cup against Ireland and the Netherlands. Egypt haven’t won a match across their previous three appearances in 1934, 1990, and 2018.
Who was cut from Egypt’s preliminary squad?
Oktay Abdullah of Enppi was cut when Egypt trimmed from 27 to the final 26. The forward was the only player removed from Hossam Hassan’s preliminary selection before the final squad was confirmed on May 29, 2026.
Egypt’s World Cup 2026 squad carries more attacking quality than any previous Pharaohs generation. A world-class captain in his final Liverpool chapter, a prolific Manchester City forward, and a disciplined domestic core give this team a genuine platform.
Reaching the knockout stage for the first time is the goal, and the Egypt World Cup 2026 squad has everything it needs to get there.
