Egypt have taken another major step in their preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after head coach Hossam Hassan unveiled a provisional 27-man squad led by captain Mohamed Salah.
The Pharaohs will trim the squad to FIFA’s required 26-player limit after an international friendly against Russia on 28 May, with one player expected to miss out before the tournament begins on 11 June in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Egypt’s training camp is scheduled to begin on 21 May at the National Teams Centre, according to team manager Ibrahim Hassan, as the North Africans intensify preparations for their return to football’s biggest stage.
The seven-time African champions will face Belgium, New Zealand and Iran in Group Stage matches at the expanded World Cup tournament.
As expected, Salah headlines the squad following another high-profile season in European football, while forward Omar Marmoush is also included as Egypt look to build a competitive attacking unit capable of making an impact on the global stage.
The squad announcement came shortly after the conclusion of the 2025/26 Egyptian Premier League season and has already generated widespread discussion among supporters.
One of the biggest talking points is the inclusion of defender Mohamed Abdelmonem, despite reports that he did not feature for Nice during the season.
Another notable decision is the first senior call-up for Aqtai Abdullah of ENPPI, with the young player rewarded with a place in the preliminary squad ahead of the World Cup.
However, there was no place for Nantes striker Mostafa Mohamed, whose absence has also attracted attention following the squad announcement.
Egypt’s goalkeeping department includes experienced captain Mohamed El Shenawy alongside Mostafa Shobeir, Al-Mahdi Suleiman and Mohamed Alaa.
In defence, Hassan has selected a mixture of domestic and overseas-based players including Mohamed Hani, Rami Rabia, Yasser Ibrahim, Ahmed Fotouh and Karim Hafez.
The midfield unit features several familiar names such as Imam Ashour, Ahmed Sayed Zizo and Mahmoud Trezeguet, while Ibrahim Adel and Haithem Hassan add further attacking creativity.
Egypt’s coaching staff now face the difficult task of deciding which player will ultimately miss out following the Russia friendly.
The decision to delay the final cut until after the match suggests Hassan wants one final opportunity to assess his squad in a competitive environment before confirming his selections for the tournament.
For Egypt, qualification for the World Cup represents another important moment in the country’s football history.
The Pharaohs remain one of Africa’s most successful football nations and hopes are high that this generation can make a strong impression internationally, particularly with Salah continuing to lead the side.
