First Touch ’26 - Egypt

Egypt helped invent African football greatness, but the World Cup has never quite gone their way. In this World Cup Capsule, David Gass charts the Pharaohs’ journey from early Olympic pioneers and 1934 World Cup trailblazers to record seven-time AFCON champions. We revisit the Cairo derbies between Al Ahly and Zamalek, the ultras who helped power the Arab Spring, and the tragic stadium disasters that shut the league down—twice. Then we fast-forward to a 2026 qualifying run where Egypt cruised through thanks to a renewed, younger squad under Hossam Hassan, who has built a balanced side around global superstar Mohamed Salah and rising Premier League forward Omar Marmoush. With a refreshed core, real attacking firepower, and a deeper supporting cast than in 2018, Egypt arrives in North America looking less like a one-man show and more like a true tournament threat.