The countdown to Egypt’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially begun, but the announcement of the Pharaohs’ preliminary squad sparked major debate after Hossam Hassan unveiled several surprising decisions ahead of the tournament’s historic edition, which will take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico with 48 teams participating for the first time ever.

The squad revealed clear signs of a new project being built by the coaching staff — one based on blending experienced stars with bold reliance on young talent. It felt like a direct statement that Egypt is preparing for a different era, even if that means leaving behind familiar names long associated with the national team.

Mostafa Mohamed Shock

The biggest surprise was undoubtedly the omission of Mostafa Mohamed, Nantes’ Egyptian striker, despite being a regular part of the national team setup in recent years. The decision shocked many fans, especially considering his status as one of Egypt’s main attacking options in previous campaigns.

However, his decline in form and lack of playing time at Nantes appear to have played a decisive role in Hossam Hassan’s decision.

The striker endured a difficult season in France, with Nantes suffering relegation to Ligue 2, while his individual numbers also dropped significantly. Those struggles pushed the coaching staff to look for new attacking solutions, particularly with fierce competition already existing in the frontline alongside Mohamed Salah, Omar Marmoush, and Mahmoud Trezeguet, in addition to the emergence of several promising young names.

At the same time, Hossam Hassan chose to hand opportunities to rising talents such as Hamza Abdel Karim of Barcelona B and Enppi striker Oktay Abdullah, sending a clear message that current form and potential now matter more than reputation or experience alone.

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A New Era for Egypt

The preliminary squad also highlighted significant diversity in the team selection, with players representing 16 different clubs across Egyptian, European, and Arab football.

Despite Al Ahly’s strong representation in the squad, the selections reflected an attempt to create a balanced and flexible team ahead of the World Cup.

FIFA itself highlighted Hossam Hassan’s choices, noting that Egypt continues to rely on the core group that secured qualification while gradually introducing younger players who could reshape the future of the national team.

Still, concerns remain surrounding defender Mohamed Abdelmonem, who was left out of Nice’s squad for the French Cup final as he continues his recovery from a serious ACL injury that sidelined him for a long period.

Despite that setback, the Egyptian coaching staff appears determined to keep faith in the defender due to the experience and stability he can provide ahead of a tournament as demanding as the World Cup.

Egypt is now preparing for two high-profile friendlies against Russia and Brazil before the final squad announcement, with fans eagerly waiting to see whether Hossam Hassan’s surprises will stop at the preliminary list — or if even bigger shocks are still to come before the Pharaohs head to the World Cup.