Egypt are considering submitting a bid to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations as part of a broader ambition to eventually stage the FIFA World Cup.
The country’s plans were revealed by Egyptian Football Association board member Hamada El Sherbini, who said efforts are underway to further improve Egypt’s sporting infrastructure in preparation for hosting major international tournaments.
Speaking to Mega FM radio, El Sherbini explained that Egypt’s impressive run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup had provided fresh motivation to continue developing football both on and off the pitch.
World Cup success fuels long-term vision
Egypt enjoyed one of their finest World Cup campaigns in history by reaching the Round of 16 before suffering a dramatic 3-2 defeat to Argentina.
El Sherbini said the team’s performances had inspired renewed optimism within Egyptian football and praised President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for recognising the squad after the tournament.
“This gesture greatly touched the hearts of all members of the delegation. The honour came from the heart and made everyone happy, and it will be an incentive for us to achieve more.”
He added that the support shown by both the government and the public has encouraged the federation to pursue even bigger objectives in the coming years.
Egypt target 2028 AFCON
According to El Sherbini, hosting the Africa Cup of Nations is viewed as an important milestone before launching a future bid for the FIFA World Cup.
The Egyptian Football Association is continuing work on upgrading stadiums and football infrastructure to strengthen the country’s credentials.
“We hope to complete the stadium file, and then apply to host the World Cup and the African Cup of Nations. We have hosted the African Cup of Nations more than once, and the next step is to bid to host the 2028 edition.”
Egypt has hosted the Africa Cup of Nations several times, most recently in 2019, and remains one of the continent’s most experienced organisers of major football events.
World Cup dream remains the ultimate goal
While the immediate focus is on securing the right to host the 2028 AFCON, the federation views the tournament as part of a wider strategy to position Egypt for an eventual FIFA World Cup bid.
El Sherbini expressed confidence that continued investment in sporting facilities and infrastructure will further enhance Egypt’s ability to stage world-class competitions.
If the bid is submitted and proves successful, Egypt would once again welcome Africa’s biggest football tournament while taking another significant step towards its long-term ambition of hosting the FIFA World Cup.
