Egypt's Football Spirit Rekindled: Aiming to Surpass 1934's Round of 16 Record

2026 FIFA World Cup Key News

Central News Report

(Central News Agency reporter Shi Wanqing, Cairo, June 16) Egypt drew 1-1 with Belgium on the 15th in the United States. This match not only marked Egypt's long-awaited return to the World Cup stage but also reignited the nation's passion for football. As a result, Egyptian fans are not only focused on the match result but also hopeful that the national team will make history in this tournament.

Egyptian media outlet Al Ahram reported that Egypt's coach, Hossam Hassan, said after the match: "I am satisfied with the players' performance this time. We took a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute of the first half. They are all improving."

The report also noted that Hassan expressed dissatisfaction over the referee's failure to award a penalty kick (12 yards). He added: "We scored first and had a clear penalty opportunity, but the referee did not call it and did not use the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), which I find puzzling."

It seems that Egyptian men are born with a "football soul"—almost every young Egyptian boy instinctively kicks a ball upon seeing one. Football is also the most resonant common topic in daily conversations among Egyptian men.

Since Egypt's opening match coincided with final exam periods at many schools, some teenagers have argued with their parents over whether to stay up late to watch the game.

Egypt has participated in the World Cup four times, previously in 1934, 1990, and 2018. In 1934, Egypt reached the Round of 16 at the World Cup held in Italy, which remains their best performance to date. Therefore, many Egyptians see this World Cup as a "chance to rewrite the team's history."

According to Egypt Today, in cafes across major cities like Cairo and Alexandria, fans are no longer just discussing whether Egypt can score goals, but whether they can advance past the group stage—a rare shift in conversation in previous years.

Mohamed Salah, Egypt's national football star, has become a symbol of the nation's hope for World Cup glory. Salah is the most iconic figure in modern Egyptian football and one of the greatest African players in the history of the English Premier League. Over nine years, he scored 257 goals for Liverpool, ranking third in the club's all-time scoring list.

The day of Egypt's match on the 15th also happened to be Salah's 34th birthday. Unfortunately, in this opening match, Salah did not deliver a record-breaking goal as he has done in crucial moments before.

The report noted that during Egypt's open training session in Spokane, Washington, many Egyptian youth living in the U.S. drove hundreds of kilometers to the training site just to take photos with Salah.

Additionally, Fawzi, a 17-year-old high school student in Egypt, told the Central News Agency that many of his classmates use artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze World Cup match data and compare it with advancement route maps created by Egyptian sports media to predict winning teams.

Another Egyptian football fan, Ali, told the Central News Agency after the match that since Belgium is considered the strongest team in the group, Egypt's fate in this World Cup will likely be decided in their match against Iran. Ali said: "Beating New Zealand is a basic requirement, but the match against Iran will be decisive."

Ali mentioned that in recent years, Egypt has faced inflation, rising prices, and increasing living costs. With limited entertainment options, life has become heavier and more burdensome for Egyptians. Thus, this World Cup seems to serve as an emotional outlet for many struggling Egyptians. (Editor: Chen Cheng-gong)