World Cup 2026: Egypt FA president Hani Abu Rida backs Pharaohs to shine at tournament

President of the Egyptian Football Association, Hani Abu Rida, has expressed optimism about his outfit chances ahead of the 2026 World Cup tournament.

The North African football powerhouse is intensifying preparations for the tournament, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with anticipation building among supporters eager to see the Pharaohs make a strong impact on the global stage.

Egypt have been drawn into Group G, where they will face Belgium, New Zealand, and Iran. Their campaign will begin with a challenging opening fixture against Belgium, a match expected to set the tone for their World Cup journey.

Speaking to the players after Egypt’s recent friendly victory over Russia, Abu Rida praised the team’s progress and highlighted the value of facing diverse opposition during the build-up period.

“The national team has had many strong friendly matches against different football schools during the recent international breaks, and has succeeded in achieving outstanding results that reflect the development of the team’s level,” he said.

The EFA president also reiterated his full confidence in the technical staff led by head coach Hossam Hassan, stressing that the current phase requires maximum focus and discipline as the team finalises its preparations.

“We have complete confidence in the technical staff and the players, and the next stage requires more focus and hard work,” Abu Rida added.

He further emphasized that Egypt are capable of representing African and Arab football strongly on the world stage, stating that the squad has the ability to compete with top international sides and deliver a respectable showing at the tournament.

“The Egyptian national team is capable of competing and presenting a respectable image of Egyptian football on the global level,” he concluded.

Egypt’s preparations received a boost following a 1-0 friendly win over Russia, with Pyramids FC forward Mostafa Zico scoring the only goal of the match. The performance added momentum ahead of more demanding tests in the build-up to the World Cup.

The Pharaohs are also scheduled to face Brazil in another high-profile friendly on June 7, which is expected to provide a final major assessment before the start of the tournament.

With optimism growing and preparations nearing completion, Egypt continue their push to arrive at the World Cup in strong form and ready to compete against some of the world’s elite football nations.