The Egyptian Football Association has announced that an Algerian refereeing team will oversee Egypt’s upcoming friendly match against Russia as the Pharaohs continue preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The match is scheduled to take place next Thursday at Cairo International Stadium, with kick-off set for 21:00 local time in Cairo and Mecca. The fixture forms part of Egypt’s final preparations before travelling to North America for the World Cup finals, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan arranged the friendly in Cairo as part of a wider preparation programme designed to ready the national side for the global tournament.
Following the match against Russia national football team, the Egyptian squad are expected to travel to the United States to begin a final training camp in Ohio. The camp will also include another high-profile friendly encounter against Brazil national football team on 6 June.
The Egyptian coaching staff believe the Russia match will play an important role in building momentum and confidence before the World Cup begins.
Hossam Hassan Calls for Strong Crowd Support
Hassan is reportedly hoping for a large turnout at Cairo International Stadium in order to provide the players with encouragement ahead of their departure for the tournament.
The former Egypt striker sees the occasion as an opportunity to strengthen morale within the squad before the team heads to North America for one of the biggest competitions in world football.
Egypt will compete in Group G at the 2026 World Cup alongside Belgium national football team, Iran national football team and New Zealand national football team.
The Pharaohs are aiming to progress beyond the group stage for the first time in their history, a target that has added further significance to the team’s preparation matches.
Algerian Officials to Take Charge
The Egyptian Football Association confirmed that the match will be officiated by an Algerian refereeing crew led by Lahlou Ben Brahim as the main referee.
He will be assisted by fellow Algerians Mohamed Hamaidi as first assistant referee and Haitham Bouima as second assistant referee.
Egyptian international referee Mahmoud Bassiouni has been appointed as the fourth official.
The association also confirmed that video assistant referee technology will not be used during the friendly encounter. The decision was reportedly agreed upon by officials from both football federations.
Despite the absence of VAR, both federations requested that FIFA include the match on the international calendar, a request that was subsequently approved.
The meeting with Russia is expected to offer Egypt a valuable opportunity to assess tactical readiness and player fitness before the squad travels to Ohio for the final phase of preparations.
With the World Cup approaching, the Pharaohs are hoping the combination of home support, competitive friendlies and an intensive training camp can help them arrive at the tournament fully prepared for the challenge ahead.
