Egypt begin their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign today with a high-profile Group G fixture against Belgium, as coach Hossam Hassan prepares his squad for one of their most demanding tests of the tournament.
The match, which kicks off at 10:00 PM, marks Egypt’s opening appearance in the competition as they aim to start their World Cup journey with a positive result against one of Europe’s strongest sides.
Final preparations were completed in the build-up to the game, with the national team holding their last training session yesterday. During that session, the coaching staff finalised tactical plans and began narrowing down the likely starting formation.
Ahead of the match, football opinions across Egypt have focused on the most suitable lineup to face Belgium, given the strength of the opposition and the importance of securing early points in Group G.
El-Sheshini weighs in on Egypt’s best XI
Former Zamalek star Sami El-Sheshini offered his assessment of the strongest possible starting lineup for Egypt in the opening fixture.
His selection reflects a balance between defensive stability and attacking pace, with several established international players included across all areas of the pitch.
According to El-Sheshini, Egypt should line up as follows:
Goalkeeper: Mostafa Shobeir
Defence: Ahmed Fatouh, Rami Rabia or Mohamed Abdel Monem, Hamdi Fathi, Yasser Ibrahim, Mohamed Hany
Midfield: Marwan Attia, Mohannad Lasheen, Emam Ashour or Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet
Attack: Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush
The proposed formation highlights Egypt’s reliance on experience in defence and creativity in midfield, while placing significant responsibility on the attacking duo to deliver goals in a difficult opening match.
Tactical considerations ahead of Belgium clash
Egypt’s coaching staff are understood to have been working closely on tactical organisation in preparation for Belgium’s attacking strength. The final training session was used to refine defensive structure and test combinations ahead of the Group G opener.
Belgium enter the tournament as one of the strongest teams in the group, meaning Egypt are expected to approach the match with a disciplined and structured setup.
The inclusion of players such as Salah and Marmoush in attacking roles is seen as key to Egypt’s hopes of exploiting counter-attacking opportunities against a highly rated opponent.
High stakes in Group G opener
The fixture carries significant importance for both sides, as Group G also includes Iran and New Zealand. With only a limited number of matches determining qualification for the knockout stage, an opening victory would provide a crucial advantage.
For Egypt, a positive result would strengthen confidence and ease pressure heading into the remaining group matches. For Belgium, victory would reinforce their status as group favourites.
Selection debate reflects anticipation
As Egypt prepare to begin their World Cup campaign against Belgium, debate continues over the most effective starting line-up. Sami El-Sheshini’s selection reflects one interpretation of how Egypt might approach the challenge, with a focus on experience and attacking threat.
With Hossam Hassan expected to finalise his official team selection shortly before kick-off, attention now turns to how Egypt will line up in what promises to be a defining opening match in their Group G campaign.
