Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan stressed that preparing the national team for the 2026 World Cup is a shared responsibility across the entire football system, not his burden alone.
Egypt will compete in Group G alongside Belgium, Iran, and New Zealand, after finishing fourth at the recent Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Hassan said the Pharaohs must aim for a standout appearance on the world stage and called for full coordination between the technical staff, Egyptian FA, and Ministry of Youth and Sports. He revealed that Egypt began its AFCON camp six days before the official international break to narrow the gap with rivals in terms of preparation time.
He urged stronger support for the national team similar to what clubs receive when they play in global competitions such as the Club World Cup. Hassan warned against waiting until the World Cup to start asking questions, saying he does not want to be “in the line of fire” alone while others ignore the foundations needed for success.
The coach confirmed that Egypt will play important friendlies against Spain, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and another side, and called for regular gatherings at the Goal Project, which he believes has all the facilities required to host national team camps. He noted that Egypt reached the AFCON semi-finals despite widespread pessimism before the tournament and facing strong, evolving African opponents.
Hassan felt Egypt’s narrow defeat to Senegal came from a goal that was “dubious” from a refereeing standpoint and pointed out that Senegal had an extra rest day, which he viewed as unfair.
He praised the Egyptian league player’s fighting spirit, arguing it helps reduce gaps despite the limited number of Europe-based professionals, and rejected criticism of his defensive approach against Senegal, saying tactical realities dictated his choices.
He added that he had hoped to win the AFCON title but fatigue worked against his players rather than any errors in selection or game plan.
