The technical staff of the Egypt national football team have confirmed that the omission of striker Mostafa Mohamed from the squad for the 2026 World Cup was based solely on technical considerations.
The decision had sparked widespread debate after Egypt coach Hossam Hassan announced a 27-man squad for the tournament to be staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
One more player is expected to be removed following a friendly match against Russia national football team in order to meet the final squad limit for the competition.
Mostafa Mohamed’s absence was viewed as one of the biggest surprises in the selection announced by Hassan, known in Egyptian football circles as “Al-Ameed”. Speculation quickly emerged regarding the reasons behind the exclusion, especially after the Nantes forward arrived in Cairo and attended the Egyptian League title-deciding match between his former club Zamalek SC and Ceramica Cleopatra FC.
The match ended with Zamalek securing the league title, and Mohamed’s presence at the stadium led some observers to suggest that factors beyond football may have influenced the decision to leave him out of the squad.
However, officials from the Egyptian national team have strongly rejected those suggestions.
Team media coordinator Mohamed Murad insisted that the striker’s omission was entirely related to footballing considerations.
He wrote on his Facebook account: “To clarify, the exclusion of any player from the Egyptian national football team’s roster was due to technical reasons.”
Murad added: “More than 50 players obtained visas to travel to America and Canada, and 27 players were selected, with the rest being excluded for purely technical reasons.”
The 28-year-old forward endured a difficult domestic campaign with FC Nantes in the French league this season.
Mohamed featured in 24 league matches, accumulating 1,151 minutes of playing time and scoring four goals. Nantes finished 17th in the standings, second from bottom, a result that confirmed the club’s relegation to the second division.
Despite his recent struggles at club level, Mostafa Mohamed has been a regular figure for Egypt over the past several years.
Nicknamed “Anaconda”, the striker has represented the national side since March 2019 and has made 61 international appearances. During that period, he scored 14 goals and provided seven assists for the Pharaohs.
He also played a role in three editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, appearing in the 2021, 2023 and 2025 tournaments.
His absence from the World Cup squad nevertheless represents a significant moment for both the player and the national team, particularly given his experience on the international stage.
Egypt’s coaching staff now face the task of finalising preparations for the tournament, while questions remain over whether Mostafa Mohamed can force his way back into future national team plans after a challenging season in France.
