Egypt are at the World Cup for the fourth time in their history. And they’ll be hoping to make it past the group stage for the first time.
In fact, Egypt will be looking to win a World Cup match for the first time. The Pharaohs lost all three matches in their most recent appearance in 2018, and many feel this is Mo Salah’s last chance to inspire the nation.
Get all the latest Egypt stats as the tournament unfolds plus the latest squad, manager and fixture information for the African side here.
Egypt route to the World Cup
Egypt suffered last-gasp heartbreak during the 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign, with a penalty shootout defeat by Senegal denying them a place in Qatar.
However, the Pharaohs did not mess around this time. They soared through to the finals as Group A winners, five points clear of second-place Burkina Faso.
Egypt also went unbeaten in their 10 matches, collecting 26 points, and conceding just two goals.
Egypt World Cup 2026 fixtures
Egypt’s return to the finals begins on 15th June, when they face Group G favourites Belgium at Lumen Field in Seattle.
The Pharaohs then travel to Vancouver to play New Zealand at BC Place six days later.
They return to Seattle on 26th June for their final group game against Iran, and what they hope will not be their last match at the tournament.
READ MORE: Get the latest Egypt World Cup 2026 outright odds here
Egypt key players for World Cup 2026
Egypt top World Cup Golden Boot contender: Mo Salah
- Key stat: Mo Salah has scored 67 goals in 115 appearances for Egypt, putting him second on his nation’s all-time list behind head coach Hossam Hassan (69).
As you would expect, Mo Salah played a key role in helping secure Egypt’s return to the finals. The Liverpool forward scored nine goals during the CAF qualifying campaign, a tally only bettered by Algeria’s Mohamed Amoura (10). He also netted both of Egypt’s goals on their last World Cup appearance in 2018.
Egypt primary playmaker: Omar Marmoush
- Key stat: Omar Marmoush has scored 10 goals in 46 international appearances for Egypt.
While Egypt will hope Salah provides the goals, they will be looking to the likes of Omar Marmoush to provide creativity in the attacking areas.
The Manchester City forward is rapidly approaching 50 caps, having only made his debut five years ago, and will be another key player for the Pharaohs.
Egypt card magnets & top tacklers: Marwan Attia
- Key stat: Marwan Attia received four yellow cards during the 2026 CAF World Cup qualifying campaign, more than any other Egypt player.
The central midfielder has also enjoyed a trophy-filled career, winning three successive Egyptian Premier League titles with Al-Ahly, as well as back-to-back CAF Champions League crowns.
Marwan Attia was shown four yellow cards during qualifying — with only two players receiving more — so Egypt will hope he stays out of the referee’s notebook this summer.
Egypt rising star: Hossam Abdelmaguid
Hossam Abdelmaguid is fresh from his first experience of major tournament football at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The 25-year-old made four appearances as Egypt reached the semi-finals, and he will hope to lock down his place in the heart of defence at this summer’s World Cup.
STAND-OUT STAT: Egypt are one of only three teams to participate in three World Cup tournaments without ever winning a game. The other two teams are Honduras and Bolivia, neither of whom have qualified for this tournament.
Egypt set-piece specialists
- Penalties: Mo Salah
- Free kicks: Mo Salah
- Corners: Mo Salah
Egypt tactical analysis and formation
Hassan tends to prefer a 4-2-3-1 formation, though occasionally switched to a 3-5-2 during the Africa Cup of Nations. There is plenty of experience within Egypt’s ranks, notably 115-cap Salah and 92-cap Trezeguet, while goalkeeper Ahmed El Shenawy has 75 to his name. With Salah usually starting on the right and Marmoush through the middle, there is lots of quality up front — in terms of goalscoring ability and creativity.
Get the latest Egypt World Cup goals, shots, tackle, assist stats are more here
Egypt manager analysis
Hossam Hassan is one of the darlings of Egyptian football. His country’s all-time leading scorer with 69 goals, he also helped them win three Afcon titles.
The Pharaohs were at a low ebb when he took the charge in February 2024, after Rui Vitoria was dismissed having overseen a poor Afcon campaign that saw them exit at the round-of-16 stage without winning a game.
Nevertheless, he steadied the ship by guiding Egypt back to the World Cup finals with an unbeaten record in the AFCON qualifying section. They also narrowly missed out on AFCON glory, following a 1-0 semi-final defeat by eventual champions Senegal.
The stats below are from his time in charge:
| Coach | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hossam Hassan | Egypt | 26 | 16 | 6 | 4 | 41 | 21 | 61.54% |
Egypt World Cup FAQs
Have Egypt ever won the World Cup?
No, Egypt have never won the World Cup. This will be their fourth appearance at the finals, with the Pharaohs targeting their first victory.
Where did Egypt finish at the last World Cup?
Egypt failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, after losing their final CAF qualifier to Senegal on penalties.
Who will be Egypt captain at the World Cup?
Mo Salah should don the armband for Egypt. After missing his country’s opening game eight years ago, he returned to score in both their final two matches.
Who is Egypt’s all-time top goalscorer at World Cups?
Mo Salah and Abdelrahman Fawzy have both scored two goals at World Cups, the most of any Egyptian players.
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