Reuters
Thousands of jubilant supporters gave Egypt’s national football team a heroes’ welcome on Friday, celebrating the Pharaohs’ historic FIFA World Cup campaign after the team produced the finest tournament performance in the country’s football history.
Waving Egyptian flags, singing patriotic songs, and holding banners reading “Egypt’s Men Made Us Proud,” thousands of fans gathered outside Alamein International Airport on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast to welcome the players and coaching staff following their return from North America.
The Pharaohs made history by securing their first-ever FIFA World Cup victories after four tournament appearances and advancing to the Round of 16 for the first time, marking the most successful World Cup campaign in Egyptian football history. Supporters also carried photographs of captain Mohamed Salah with the words “Thank You” as a tribute to his leadership and performances throughout the tournament.
The celebrations continued after the team’s arrival as the players boarded an open-top bus for a victory parade through the streets of New Alamein. Thousands of cheering supporters lined the roads, waving flags and applauding the squad during the procession. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is scheduled to receive the national team, along with its technical and administrative staff, on Saturday in recognition of their historic achievement.
Among the crowds were many supporters carrying large posters of head coach Hossam Hassan draped in the Palestinian flag, reflecting widespread appreciation for his public support of the Palestinian cause during the World Cup.
Egypt’s all-time leading scorer repeatedly carried a Palestinian flag onto the pitch during several matches and openly expressed his support for Palestinian rights during post-match press conferences, earning praise from many supporters who viewed his actions as a symbol of solidarity beyond football.
The team’s emotional homecoming came despite suffering a dramatic 3-2 defeat to Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the Round of 16.
Egypt appeared to be on course for one of the greatest victories in its football history after establishing a commanding 2-0 lead late in the match. However, Argentina mounted a remarkable comeback by scoring three goals during the final 11 minutes to eliminate the Pharaohs from the tournament in heartbreaking fashion.
Despite the painful defeat, Egypt returned home with immense pride after delivering its greatest-ever FIFA World Cup campaign.
The Pharaohs began their memorable journey by defeating New Zealand during the group stage before overcoming Australia in a penalty shootout in the Round of 32 to secure a historic place in the knockout stages.
Their performances throughout the tournament earned widespread admiration from supporters and football analysts alike, with many describing the campaign as a turning point for Egyptian football on the global stage.
Ahead of the team’s return to Egypt, the Egyptian Football Association announced the renewal of the contracts of head coach Hossam Hassan and his twin brother, Ibrahim Hassan, who serves as a member of the technical staff.
Although the Egyptian Football Association did not disclose the duration of the new contracts, local media reports indicated that the agreements are expected to remain in effect until 2030, reflecting the federation’s confidence in the current coaching staff following the team’s remarkable achievements.
Since taking charge of the national team in 2024, the 59-year-old Hossam Hassan has overseen a remarkable revival of Egyptian football.
Under his leadership, Egypt reached the semi-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, ended the country’s eight-year absence from the FIFA World Cup, and guided the Pharaohs to their best-ever performance at the global tournament.
Hassan has also compiled an impressive managerial record with the national team, recording 20 victories, nine draws, and six defeats, while rebuilding a competitive squad that has re-established Egypt among the continent’s leading football nations and restored supporters’ belief in the team’s ability to compete successfully on the world stage.
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