Egypt enter their first match at the 2026 World Cup against Belgium amid great anticipation from the fans. This is not only because of Belgium’s strength, but also because this match represents the first real test for Hossam Hassan’s project with the Pharaohs in a major global tournament.

Before the match, Hossam Hassan appeared in the pre-match press conference and sent several important messages. The Egypt head coach did not speak in a way that suggested fear of Belgium, and at the same time, he did not make exaggerated promises.

Instead, he gave a balanced message, combining respect for the opponent’s strength, confidence in Egypt’s players, and a desire to deliver a performance worthy of the national team’s name.

Egypt begin their journey in Group G with a difficult match against Belgium, a team that has great experience and several standout players at top European clubs. Even so, Hossam Hassan believes that the difficulty of the match does not mean Egypt are entering it without chances.

He confirmed that the team prepared well, that the technical staff studied the opponent’s strengths, and that the Pharaohs have players capable of producing a strong performance.

A team that does not depend on one star

The most important message in Hossam Hassan’s comments was that Egypt do not depend only on Mohamed Salah, despite the huge value of the Pharaohs’ captain and Liverpool star.

The coach confirmed that Salah is a very important player, both on and off the pitch, and that his great experience will play an important role with the national team at the World Cup. However, at the same time, he refused to reduce Egypt’s strength to just one player.

Hossam Hassan stressed that Egypt have other players capable of making the difference, such as Omar Marmoush and Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet, alongside new players who are expected to show themselves well in the tournament.

This message seems very important before a match as big as the one against Belgium, because depending on one player against a strong opponent could make the team’s style of play easy to predict.

Hossam Hassan wants to make it clear that Egypt will enter the match as a full team, not as a group waiting for an individual moment from Salah or Marmoush.

This approach could be very important if the team wants to come away with a positive result. Facing Belgium requires commitment from everyone, compact lines, and good use of any chance that appears in front of goal.

Hossam Hassan’s comments about Mohamed Salah also carried a clear tone of support. He pointed out that Egypt’s captain went through difficult circumstances in a previous period, but returned and delivered good performances with Liverpool.

For that reason, the technical staff expect Salah to be strongly present at the World Cup. This shows that Hossam Hassan is counting on Salah’s experience, but he does not want to place all the pressure on him alone.

Respect for Belgium.. and confidence in the Egyptian dream

Hossam Hassan did not deny Belgium’s strength. He spoke about several important names in the opponent’s squad, such as Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne, and Jeremy Doku, stressing that Belgium have influential players in more than one position. Therefore, the match requires great focus from Egypt’s players from the first minute until the final whistle.

On the other hand, Hossam Hassan did not appear as if he considered the match impossible. He confirmed that Egypt have special players, and that some elements may surprise the fans during the tournament.

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This confidence does not mean underestimating Belgium’s value, but it reflects the technical staff’s desire to enter the match with a competitive mindset, not only with a defensive mentality while waiting for the opponent’s mistakes.

Hossam Hassan also recalled his old memories against Belgium when he faced them as a player, pointing out that he had previously beaten them while wearing the Egypt shirt. Although past matches do not decide present ones, this memory carries an important psychological meaning.

It confirms that Egypt are capable of competing, as long as they believe in their chances and handle the details of the match smartly.

The head coach also spoke about Egypt’s target in the tournament, which is to reach the next round. Hossam Hassan did not settle for talking about a good participation or an honorable appearance only.

Instead, he stressed that Egypt should be present regularly at the World Cup, and that this generation is capable of presenting a good image of Egyptian football.

This point is very important, because Egypt do not want their appearance at the World Cup to be just a passing participation.

The fans are waiting for strong performances and good results, and Hossam Hassan understands the size of the pressure on him and on the players. He is speaking as a coach who experienced the World Cup atmosphere before as a player, and he knows very well the value of this tournament for the Egyptian people.

Among the issues Hossam Hassan also discussed was the matter of adapting to the weather in the United States and the match timings. He said that the technical staff are working to prepare the players physically and mentally to deal with these conditions.

He also confirmed that these matters do not concern Egypt alone, but all the teams taking part in the tournament. This is an important point, because small details at the World Cup can make the difference, whether in terms of focus, energy, or how quickly the players get into the rhythm of the match.

Hossam Hassan also made sure to praise the role of the entire technical staff, led by Ibrahim Hassan. He confirmed that the experience within the staff helps the national team at this important stage.

His comments also showed that the good relationship between the players, the technical staff, and the management is an important part of success, because the tournament is not managed only on the pitch, but also requires organization, harmony, and trust inside the camp.

In the end, Hossam Hassan’s press conference before facing Belgium can be summed up in one clear message: Egypt respect the opponent, but they do not fear them.

The team knows the match is difficult, and knows that Belgium have big names and great experience, but at the same time, Egypt want to present themselves as a united team capable of competing.

The Belgium match will be the first real test for the Pharaohs at the 2026 World Cup. If Egypt manage to turn the words from the press conference into a strong performance on the pitch, the beginning in Seattle may become more than just an opening match.

It could be the first step toward a bigger dream that an entire nation is waiting for.