Egyptian FA scrambles to secure Spain friendly amid visa and venue challenges

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA), under the leadership of Hani Abu Rida, is working intensively to ensure the Pharaohs’ friendly against Spain goes ahead on March 31, despite a series of logistical hurdles.

The Pharaohs’ March program originally included two friendlies—against Saudi Arabia and Spain—planned to be held in Qatar. However, Doha later withdrew from hosting due to the fallout from the ongoing US-Iranian conflict, forcing the EFA to explore alternative arrangements.

An agreement was reached for the match to be played in Spain, with Espanyol’s stadium initially set as the venue. But recent developments saw reports emerge of the friendly’s cancellation, further complicating Egypt’s preparation plans.

In an official statement on Thursday, the EFA confirmed that Abu Rida is making “intensive efforts during the current period to hold our national team’s friendly match against the Spanish national team on March 31, as part of the Pharaohs’ preparation program.”

Abu Rida emphasized that these efforts include resolving the ongoing visa crisis, coordinating travel, and addressing all logistical obstacles to ensure the team can train and compete without disruption. “The president of the federation continues his contacts to overcome all obstacles and ensure the smooth running of the national team’s program,” the statement added.

The association also highlighted close collaboration with the technical staff, led by Hossam Hassan, the national team’s technical director, and Ibrahim Hassan, team manager, to provide an optimal environment for the players during the international camp.

Before the Spain fixture, the Pharaohs are scheduled to face Saudi Arabia on March 26 in Jeddah, as part of their final preparation phase for the upcoming World Cup competitions.

The Egyptian football community now watches closely, hoping that Abu Rida’s diplomatic and logistical efforts will pay off and that the marquee friendly against Spain will proceed as planned.