Al Wakrah grant Hamdi Fathi extended break after Egypt’s 2026 World Cup campaign

Egypt international Hamdi Fathi has been granted additional time off by Al Wakrah following his involvement with the Pharaohs at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, explaining his absence from the Qatari club’s pre-season training camp in France.

The experienced midfielder was not included in the squad that travelled to France for the overseas camp, prompting questions from supporters over his omission. However, Al Wakrah have confirmed that the decision was made by the club’s technical staff to allow the player time to rest after an exhausting summer on international duty.

Fathi played an important role for Egypt during the World Cup, helping the Pharaohs reach the Round of 16 before they were knocked out by Argentina. The midfielder featured throughout the tournament despite suffering an injury during the competition, which forced him to miss Egypt’s group-stage clash against Iran.

Following the conclusion of the World Cup, Al Wakrah decided against rushing the 31-year-old back into pre-season preparations, opting instead to give him a short holiday before he rejoins the squad.

In an interview, Al Wakrah vice-president Mohammed bin Fahd explained that Fathi’s absence was entirely planned and should not be linked to any transfer speculation or fitness concerns.

“Hamdi Fathi has been granted a number of days off by the technical staff following his participation in the World Cup,” Mohammed bin Fahd said as quoted by Batolat.

The club believes the additional rest will allow the Egyptian international to recover fully from the physical and mental demands of the tournament before returning for the new season.

Fathi has established himself as one of Al Wakrah’s key players since arriving in Qatar, with his leadership, defensive awareness and experience making him a crucial figure in the team’s midfield. Club officials are therefore keen to ensure he returns in peak condition rather than risk fatigue after a busy international schedule.

Meanwhile, Al Wakrah have begun their preparations in France with the rest of the squad, where the team will undergo intensive training sessions and play a number of friendly matches as they build towards the start of the new campaign.

Although he is not part of the travelling group, Fathi is expected to rejoin his teammates once his leave comes to an end and resume preparations ahead of the new Qatari Stars League season.

The decision to grant the Egyptian midfielder extra time off reflects Al Wakrah’s commitment to managing the workload of their senior players, particularly those returning from major international tournaments, ensuring they are physically and mentally ready for the challenges that lie ahead.