World Cup 2026: Former Egypt star Hassan Mustafa backs team for group-stage breakthrough

Former Egyptian football star Hassan Mustafa has expressed strong confidence in the ability of the Pharaohs to advance beyond the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite acknowledging the difficulty of their opponents and the demanding conditions of the tournament in the United States.

The North African football powerhouse have been drawn into a challenging group featuring Belgium national football team, Iran national football team, and New Zealand national football team, with the Pharaohs aiming to secure a place in the knockout rounds for one of the most significant achievements in their modern football history.

The campaign begins with a high-profile opening match against Belgium on June 15, a fixture widely expected to set the tone for Egypt’s chances in the group.

Speaking on the “Game and the Second” programme on Mega FM, Hassan Mustafa highlighted the environmental challenges that could influence performances throughout the tournament.

He pointed to the impact of weather conditions and travel demands across different venues in the United States, noting that climate variations and time zone differences are likely to affect all participating teams in varying degrees.

According to him, adaptability will be just as important as technical ability, especially for teams aiming to maintain consistency across the group stage.

Despite acknowledging the difficulty of the group, Mustafa remained optimistic about Egypt’s prospects, insisting that the team has the quality needed to compete for qualification.

He noted that Belgium possess a strong squad filled with high-level international talent, but stressed that Egypt are capable of matching them when tactically disciplined and well organised.

His belief is that Egypt’s best approach lies in defensive structure and quick transitions, particularly when facing European opponents with greater possession-based control and attacking depth.

Mustafa also addressed Egypt’s squad composition, pointing out that many of the national team players are based in the domestic league, unlike several African rivals such as Senegal, Morocco, and Ivory Coast, who rely heavily on European-based professionals.

In his view, this dynamic could influence Egypt’s tactical identity, making compact defending and counter-attacking play the most effective strategy at World Cup level.

The former star also praised recent performances, highlighting the team’s display against Brazil as evidence of growing competitiveness on the international stage.

He added that current national team coach Hossam Hassan has shown an ability to identify emerging talent and integrate new players who could become key contributors during the tournament.

As Egypt continue their final preparations, optimism is gradually building among former players and supporters alike, with belief growing that the Pharaohs could emerge as one of the surprise packages of the group stage if they execute their tactical plan effectively.