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After watching his team suffer one of the biggest collapses in World Cup history, Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan only made things worse.
Egypt led 2-0 but gave up three goals in the final 20 minutes against Argentina to be eliminated in the round of 16 in devastating fashion.
As he left the field, Hassan, who has openly supported Palestine throughout the World Cup, appeared to spot two Argentina fans holding an Israeli flag.
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Hossam Hassan, head coach of Egypt, reacts after the 3-2 defeat in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 between Argentina and Egypt at Atlanta Stadium on July 7, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
Hassan and another coach appeared angry at the fans, pointing at them from the field and appearing to imitate spitting in their direction. Hassan then found himself facing a photographer capturing the moment, while another coach appeared to drop an F-bomb towards fans.
After Egypt’s victory over Australia in the round of 16 at the weekend, Hassan waved a Palestinian flag on the field. After their penalty shootout victory, Hassan said he dedicated Egypt’s victory to the “good and noble” Egyptian and Palestinian people.
“My heart and soul are with them,” he said after that match. “I dedicate this victory to the Palestinians. May Allah grant them victory and have mercy on their martyrs.”
“If there is anyone in the world who does not feel for the Palestinian people at all, then he is not human,” Hassan added earlier this week.
Hossam Hassan (Egypt) during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match, Argentina v Egypt, Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, USA, July 7, 2026. (Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Video of the Iran-New Zealand World Cup match last month at SoFi Stadium outside Los Angeles appeared to show one man’s Israeli flag being confiscated, while adjacent Palestinian flags were allowed to remain in the stands. The man with the Israeli flag told PK Press Club Digital after the incident that security also told him that “the head of FIFA didn’t care” about the Palestinian flag behind him, “and that they only cared about my flag specifically.”
“They said they had no problem with their flags, and they only had a problem with ours,” he said, citing double standards. “They had no marching orders to take their flag, or anyone else’s. It was quite embarrassing…
“They said they had no problem with their flags, only with ours,” he added. “They had no marching orders to take their flag, or anyone else’s. It was quite embarrassing.”
Hossam Hassan, head coach of Egypt, reacts during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt at Atlanta Stadium on July 7, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Wu Zhizhao/VCG via Getty Images)
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FIFA rule 4.2.23 states that World Cup participants should only use flags “in a celebratory and friendly manner”. FIFA also prohibits “documents” of a “political nature”. However, the Associated Press notes that FIFA has said it is allowed to fly the Palestinian flag at the World Cup.
