Barcelona Athletic star Hamza Abdel Karim tipped for Egypt 2026 World Cup spot

Barcelona prospect Hamza Abdel Karim could make Egypt squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup to be co-hosted in the United Canada and Mexico.

Karim’s emergence has been one of the more surprising developments of late 2025, after his name began circulating in connection with Barcelona’s youth system and long-term attacking plans.

The Egyptian forward, who became the first Egyptian to join Barcelona’s setup, reportedly overcame early administrative delays before officially beginning his competitive journey in Spain in March. Despite a short adaptation period, he impressed enough to finish his debut season with six goals at youth level.

According to the report, Barcelona’s coaching structure has been carefully managing the teenager’s development, placing him initially within the Under-19 setup rather than immediately promoting him to FC Barcelona Atlètic.

The club’s approach has focused on gradual integration, allowing the striker to adapt to a new tactical environment and playing style rather than rushing his progression into senior competition.

Barcelona reportedly view his early months in Catalonia as part of a long-term development project, especially given the competitive nature of their reserve team, which has been engaged in a strong promotion battle.

Despite his youth, Abdel Karim has already shown promising traits in front of goal, with reports praising his finishing ability, movement inside the box and natural attacking instincts.

In a major development, the report claims that Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan has included Abdel Karim in his provisional squad for the 2026 World Cup.

The squad selection, which consists of 27 players, is expected to be trimmed down after a series of pre-tournament friendlies, meaning the teenager still faces a fight to secure his final place in the tournament squad.

Nevertheless, his inclusion at such an early stage of his career has been described as a surprise within Barcelona circles, given his limited senior experience.

While Egypt appear willing to accelerate his international exposure, Barcelona have adopted a more measured development plan.

Club officials are said to value his potential highly but are not rushing his progression, preferring that he continues learning within the youth structure before stepping into more demanding roles.

Besides, Barcelona remain determined to secure his long-term future, with the club believed to have a purchase option in the region of €2 million. The intention is for him to eventually become part of the club’s wider attacking pathway, potentially with FC Barcelona Atlètic next season.

As the 2026 World Cup approaches, all attention will be on whether the young Barcelona striker can complete his rapid rise by securing a place in Egypt’s final squad — a move that would mark one of the most remarkable breakthroughs of the tournament cycle.