Egyptian wonderkid Hamza Abdelkarim set for potential Barcelona Champions League debut

Egyptian youngster Hamza Abdelkarim is on the verge of making history as he prepares to potentially make his UEFA Champions League debut when Barcelona face Feyenoord Rotterdam.

Barcelona will host the Dutch side at the Camp Nou in the opening round of the 2026/27 Champions League campaign, with Abdelkarim included in Hansi Flick’s squad for the highly anticipated encounter.

The 18-year-old has been part of Barcelona’s first-team setup since the beginning of the season after impressing during pre-season. His performances during the summer convinced the Catalan giants to keep him at the club rather than send him out on loan.

Abdelkarim has continued to train with the senior team and is now in contention to make his first appearance in Europe’s elite club competition.

Barcelona have also appeared to highlight the Egyptian’s readiness for the occasion. The club’s official account on X shared a video showing Abdelkarim scoring during a training session ahead of the Feyenoord game.

The young forward displayed his composure and technique by producing a fine left-footed finish past goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny during the session, further underlining his confidence ahead of the Champions League encounter.

Abdelkarim was also registered with Barcelona Atlètic for the current season, where he has been assigned the number 19 shirt. Despite interest from clubs looking to take him on loan during the summer transfer window, Barcelona decided against allowing the Egyptian international to leave.

The Catalan club are instead believed to be planning to improve his contract as they look to secure his long-term future.

Barcelona are reportedly considering increasing Abdelkarim’s release clause from its current €15 million to €150 million, highlighting the club’s belief in the teenager’s potential.

A Champions League appearance against Feyenoord would represent another major milestone in Abdelkarim’s rapid development and could mark the beginning of an exciting chapter in his Barcelona career.

For the Egyptian international, the opportunity to make his Champions League debut at the Camp Nou would be a particularly significant moment as he continues his rise into Barcelona’s first team.