Egypt Coach Hossam Hassan Targets World Cup Glory Ahead Of Belgium Clash

Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan has made it clear that qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is not enough for the Pharaohs, insisting his team must go further and leave a lasting mark on football’s biggest stage.

The former Egyptian striker, who represented his country at the 1990 World Cup, believes the current generation has the quality to achieve what previous teams could not and finally establish Egypt among the game’s leading nations.

Speaking ahead of Egypt’s opening match against Belgium, Hassan reflected on his own World Cup experience and outlined his ambitions for the tournament.

“Reaching the World Cup as a player and coach is a great thing,” said Hassan.

“Egypt should take its rightful place in football. Back in 1990, I think we did something good, although we didn’t follow through on it.

“We played well, came close to going through but it was not meant to be. So I hope, God willing, we can finally go through.”

Naija News gathered that even though Egypt are Africa’s most successful national team with seven Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) titles, they have yet to reach the knockout rounds of a World Cup.

Hassan believes the passion surrounding football in the country can inspire the team to achieve that long-standing goal.

“The idea of football in Egypt is not to be taken lightly. It’s not just a game, it’s life. Whenever Egyptians see the Egyptian flag, they rally around it every time, especially when it comes to football. What matters to me is living up to the expectations of Egyptian people and fans,” said Hassan.

The coach also highlighted the importance of captain Mohamed Salah, describing the outgoing Liverpool forward as one of the finest players in world football.

“Mohamed Salah has broken countless records around the world,” added the coach.

“He is one of the best players in the world and I hope he scores more than I. The most important thing is for us to win and score goals for Egypt.”