A series of past encounters between Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti and Egyptian football have come back into focus ahead of Brazil’s upcoming friendly against Egypt national football team in Ohio, as both sides continue preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The match, scheduled to take place in the early hours of Sunday morning at Huneton Bank Field in the United States, will form part of Egypt’s build-up to the tournament jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
It will also mark the first meeting between Ancelotti, now in charge of Brazil national football team, and Egypt, managed by former international striker Hossam Hassan. While it is their first direct encounter, Ancelotti’s history with Egyptian football stretches across clubs, players and memorable incidents.
Al Ahly defeat in Club World Cup
One of Ancelotti’s most notable clashes with Egyptian opposition came when his Real Madrid side faced Al Ahly SC in the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco on 8 February 2023.
Real Madrid won the match 4-1 to advance to the final. Goals came from Vinicius Junior, Federico Valverde, Rodrygo and Sergio Arribas, while Al Ahly scored through Tunisian defender Ali Maaloul.
The Egyptian side also had a moment of pride in the match when goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy saved a penalty from Luka Modrić, preventing a heavier defeat on the night.
Although the result was comfortable for Madrid, the encounter remains a key reference point in Ancelotti’s limited competitive history against Egyptian clubs.
The Mohamed Salah connection
Perhaps the most widely remembered Egyptian link in Ancelotti’s career involves Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah.
During a UEFA Champions League meeting between Liverpool and Napoli in 2018, Ancelotti famously asked for Salah’s shirt after the match. The Egyptian forward obliged, in a gesture that has since become one of the more symbolic post-match moments involving the Italian coach.
Ancelotti has also spoken positively about Salah on several occasions, describing the Egypt captain as one of the best players in world football and consistently praising his influence at the highest level of the game.
Trezeguet transfer interest
Another Egyptian player linked with Ancelotti in the past is Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet.
Trezeguet has previously claimed that Ancelotti attempted to sign him twice, first during his time at Napoli and later at Everton. According to the player, the Italian coach was impressed by his abilities and pushed for a move on more than one occasion, although the transfers never materialised.
The interest highlights Ancelotti’s long-standing awareness of Egyptian talent, even if those potential deals did not progress to completion.
Unusual off-field story
Ancelotti’s name has also appeared in more unusual discussions involving Egyptian football circles. Former Egypt international Ahmed Hossam Mido previously claimed in media interviews that the Italian coach had shown interest in working with an African “magician” during his managerial career.
The remarks, which Mido has repeated in several television appearances, have never been publicly addressed by Ancelotti and remain an anecdotal and controversial talking point rather than a confirmed professional detail.
A familiar backdrop for Brazil vs Egypt
As Brazil and Egypt prepare to meet in Ohio, these past intersections between Ancelotti and Egyptian football add an additional narrative layer to the fixture.
For Egypt, the match represents a significant test against one of world football’s most successful managerial figures. For Ancelotti, it is another chapter in a long and varied relationship with Egyptian players and teams that spans clubs, international stars and memorable moments across different stages of his career.
