Egypt FA in talks with Saudi Arabia for a potential pre-World Cup friendly game

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) is in active discussions with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation to arrange a friendly match between the two national teams.

This initiative comes in the wake of the cancellation of the Qatar international friendly tournament, which was originally set to serve as part of Egypt’s preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Negotiations are still ongoing, and the two federations have yet to finalize the date and venue for the proposed encounter.

While no official agreement has been reached, both sides have expressed a shared interest in ensuring the match takes place either in Egypt or Saudi Arabia, depending on logistical and security considerations.

The Qatar tournament, scheduled for this month, was officially cancelled by the organizing committee, citing the instability in the region due to the ongoing conflict in Iran as the primary reason.

The committee stated that under the current circumstances, hosting an international event would be unsafe and logistically challenging.

This cancellation has left the Egyptian national team seeking alternative opportunities to maintain their competitive rhythm and test tactical setups ahead of the World Cup qualifiers and final preparations for the 2026 global event.

Officials from the EFA have emphasized that maintaining regular international fixtures is a priority, both to provide the team with high-level competition and to keep players match-fit.

Discussions with Saudi Arabia are part of a broader effort to schedule friendly matches with other regional and international teams, ensuring Egypt remains well-prepared despite disruptions caused by geopolitical developments in the region.

The potential friendly against Saudi Arabia is expected to attract significant attention, given the historic rivalry and strong competitive ties between the two national teams.