Waving flags, singing patriotic songs and holding banners proclaiming “Egyptian men have made us proud”, thousands of fans welcomed the Egyptian national football team on Friday after the Pharaohs produced the finest World Cup campaign in the country’s history.
Crowds gathered outside Alamein International Airport on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast to greet players and coaching staff as they returned from North America, where Egypt won the World Cup for the first time in four attempts and reached the round of 16. Supporters also held up photos of captain Mohamed Salah bearing the words “Thank you.”
The celebrations continued as the team boarded an open-top bus and paraded through New Alamein, waving to enthusiastic fans lining the streets. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is due to receive the team and its technical and administrative staff on Saturday.
Among the crowd were fans carrying large posters of coach Hossam Hassan draped in a Palestinian flag, reflecting his appreciation for supporting the Palestinian cause during the tournament. Egypt’s all-time top scorer has waved a Palestinian flag on the pitch on several occasions and expressed support for Palestinian rights in press conferences.
The return home came despite a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat to Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the round of 16. Egypt led 2-0 until the final stages before conceding three goals in the final 11 minutes, but nevertheless returned home with pride after their best World Cup series, having beaten New Zealand in the group stage and Australia on penalties in the round of 16.
Before the team’s return, the Egyptian Football Federation renewed the contracts of Hossam Hassan and his twin brother Ibrahim Hassan. The federation did not disclose the duration of the agreement, although local media reported it would last until 2030.
Hassan, 59, has revitalized the national team since taking charge in 2024, leading Egypt to the semi-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, ending an eight-year absence from the World Cup and compiling a record of 20 wins, nine draws and six defeats.
