Hossam Hassan reveals heart health battle after guiding Egypt to historic World Cup run

Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan has revealed that he underwent two cardiac catheterization procedures and had three stents implanted since taking charge of the Pharaohs, opening up about the health challenges he has faced while leading the national team.

The former Egypt captain and one of the country’s greatest football icons disclosed his medical struggles after overseeing the North African side’s impressive campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.

“Since I took over as head coach of the Egyptian national team, I have undergone two cardiac catheterization procedures and the placement of three stents,” Hassan said.

Despite dealing with serious health issues, the 59-year-old remained on the sidelines throughout Egypt’s World Cup journey, steering the seven-time African champions to the knockout stage of the tournament.

Egypt produced one of their best World Cup performances in recent history, advancing beyond the group phase before edging past Australia on penalties in the Round of 16 to book a quarterfinal clash against Argentina.

The Pharaohs’ dream run, however, came to an end after a thrilling 3-2 defeat to the South American giants in the quarterfinals.

Although Egypt fell short of reaching the semifinals, Hassan earned widespread praise for guiding the team to one of its deepest runs at the global showpiece, restoring optimism around the national side ahead of future competitions.

Hassan, who enjoyed a legendary playing career with Egypt and remains the country’s all-time leading scorer, has now also demonstrated remarkable resilience off the pitch, balancing the demands of international football while undergoing treatment for his heart condition.