Barcelona youngster Hamza Abdelkarim to be included in Egypt’s preliminary 2026 World Cup squad

Egypt national team director Ibrahim Hassan has confirmed that Barcelona youth striker Hamza Abdelkarim will be named in the Pharaohs’ preliminary squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The 18-year-old forward, currently on loan at Barcelona Juvenil A from Egyptian giants Al Ahly, has impressed in Spain, including a standout hat-trick against Montecarlo.

“Abdelkarim will be included in Egypt’s preliminary 55-man squad for the 2026 World Cup finals,” Hassan told local outlet Yallakora.

He added that the squad will later be trimmed to 26 players and submitted in early June.

Abdelkarim joined Barcelona on a loan deal until the end of the season, with an option to make the move permanent.

A product of Al Ahly’s academy, he has already made nine senior appearances for the Cairo-based club.

At the international level, he played a key role in Egypt’s youth success, helping them win the 2024 UNAF U-17 tournament and scoring twice at the 2025 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations.

He also starred at the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, registering two goals and an assist as Egypt reached the round of 16.

Egypt have been drawn in Group G for the 2026 World Cup alongside Iran, New Zealand and Belgium, with the tournament set to be hosted across the United States and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.