Latest news on the Egypt football team, providing comprehensive coverage of the Egypt national team, the Pharaohs and Egyptian football, including World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaigns, qualifiers, friendlies, fixtures, results, squad announcements, team news, Mohamed Salah, Hossam Hassan, Omar Marmoush, Trezeguet and Egyptian Football Association (EFA) news.
The Egypt national football team, known as the Pharaohs, is the most successful side in AFCON history, with seven titles. Captain Mohamed Salah, one of Africa's greatest players, leads a squad that includes Omar Marmoush and Trezeguet. The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) runs the team, which plays home fixtures at Cairo International Stadium. Former striker Hossam Hassan was appointed head coach in 2024.
Egypt won their qualifying group to reach the 2026 World Cup, their fourth appearance after 1934, 1990 and 2018. In the finals they drew with Belgium, beat New Zealand 3-1 for a first World Cup win and drew with Iran to finish second in Group G. The Pharaohs then reached the last 16 for the first time, losing 3-2 to Argentina after leading 2-0. At the 2025 AFCON they reached the semi-finals before a 1-0 defeat by Senegal.
Football is central to Egyptian life. Matchdays bring cafes and public squares to life across a country of more than 100 million people, uniting Egyptians across class and region. The squad has long drawn on Cairo rivals Al Ahly and Zamalek, whose fierce rivalry often spills into selection debates. Salah's global fame has raised the profile of Egyptian football far beyond Africa.
Egypt were the first African and Arab nation to play at a World Cup, in 1934. The team later dominated the continent, winning AFCON in 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008 and 2010, including three titles in a row from 2006. Long gaps between World Cup appearances meant that continental success was slow to translate onto the global stage.
Challenges have been part of the story. Egypt lost dramatic penalty shootouts to Senegal in the 2022 AFCON final and in a World Cup play-off that year. Debates over coaching appointments, squad selection, ageing stars and the demands of club and country on Salah regularly dominate Egyptian sports media.
Our NewsNow feed on the Egypt football team brings together the latest headlines from reliable sources on fixtures, results, squad news, qualifiers, friendlies, AFCON and the World Cup. Whether you follow the Pharaohs, Salah or the Egyptian FA, it is the place for comprehensive, up-to-date coverage.