The Egyptian Football Association and members of the national team have expressed deep sorrow following the death of the brother of Tarek Suleiman, the general coach of the first Egyptian national team, as the squad prepares for their World Cup knockout match against Australia.
In a statement, the Board of Directors of the Egyptian Football Association, led by Hani Abu Rida, together with the technical staff of the national team headed by Hossam and Ibrahim Hassan, the Secretary-General of the Federation, and all employees, conveyed their condolences and sympathy to the bereaved family.
The statement read: “The Board of Directors of the Egyptian Football Association, headed by Hani Abu Rida, the technical staff of the Egyptian national team led by Hossam and Ibrahim Hassan, the Secretary-General of the Federation and all employees, mourn with great sadness and sorrow the brother of Tarek Suleiman, the general coach of the first Egyptian national team, who passed away today, praying to God Almighty to have mercy on the deceased and forgive him, to grant him a place in Paradise, and to inspire his family and relatives with patience and solace.”
The technical staff of the national team also issued their own message of condolence, led by coach Hossam Hassan, team manager Ibrahim Hassan, and Adel Suleiman, joining in mourning the loss.
They stated: “The technical staff of the first national football team, led by coach Hossam Hassan, team manager Ibrahim Hassan, and Adel Suleiman, mourn the brother of Tarek Suleiman, the general coach of the Egyptian national team.”
The statement continued: “We ask God Almighty to have mercy on the deceased, to grant him a place in Paradise, and to give his family and loved ones patience and solace. To God we belong and to Him we shall return.”
The news of the bereavement comes at a critical moment for the Egyptian squad, who are currently in the United States competing in the 2026 World Cup.
The team arrived in Dallas, Texas, on Thursday as part of their preparations for their round-of-32 fixture against Australia. The squad travelled from Spokane to Dallas on a private aircraft provided by FIFA, with the journey lasting approximately three and a half hours.
Despite the emotional circumstances within the camp, Egypt remain focused on their upcoming knockout match as they continue their World Cup campaign.
Egypt will face Australia on Friday in Dallas, with kick-off scheduled for 9pm Cairo and Mecca time.
The match is part of the round of 32 stage of the tournament, which is being hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
As the team balances preparation with mourning, attention now turns to how they will respond on the pitch in what is a significant moment in their World Cup journey.
