At a time when Egyptian football fans are following every detail about the national team at the 2026 World Cup, Hossam Hassan made an important statement that reopened a major file inside the Egyptian Football Association. He confirmed that he has been working as Egypt’s head coach without an official contract since last February.

This statement was not a normal one, because it came from the coach leading the national team during a very important stage in Egyptian football history. While Egypt continues its journey in a major tournament, the head coach remains in an unclear administrative situation, even though the technical work on the pitch is continuing normally.

Hossam Hassan explained that the absence of an official contract does not currently occupy his mind, and that his main focus is on the national team and the players. He also said there is an agreement to renew his contract if Egypt reaches the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations. But despite Hossam Hassan’s calm tone when speaking about the issue, one clear question remains: how can a national team the size of Egypt enter such an important stage while its coach still does not have an official contract?

A Missing Contract, but Full Focus

Hossam Hassan did not speak about the contract issue in an angry or aggressive way. He also did not try to escalate the situation. On the contrary, he appeared keen to keep the players away from any problems or pressure outside the pitch. For him, coaching Egypt is a national responsibility before it is just a contract or a written agreement.

Hossam Hassan believes that a national coach has an important advantage, because he is close to the Egyptian player and understands his personality and circumstances better. This is a point he always tries to stress, especially with the constant comparisons between Egyptian coaches and foreign coaches.

According to his comments, the technical staff is preparing the Egyptian national team in an organized way, by studying opponents, preparing more than one playing style, and trying to build a clear identity for the team on the pitch. Egypt does not only need strong names; it also needs a clear shape, team spirit, and the ability to deal with difficult matches.

At the same time, Hossam Hassan believes that the national coach does not always get enough appreciation, even when he works under huge pressure and perhaps in tougher conditions than a foreign coach. This message carries some blame, but it also shows his desire to defend the experience of the Egyptian coach with his national team.

Belgium Confirms the Team’s Character

Hossam Hassan’s comments about the contract issue came after a good start for Egypt at the 2026 World Cup, as the Pharaohs drew 1-1 with Belgium in the first round of the group stage.

Although a draw against a strong team like Belgium is considered a positive result, Hossam Hassan believes Egypt could have won the match. He confirmed that the players delivered a big performance and were close to taking all three points, saying that the team played with a strong personality and did not enter the match just to defend.

Egypt looked organized against Belgium and tried to deal with the opponent’s strength with confidence. The Belgian team has experienced players who play at the highest level in Europe, but Egypt managed to impose itself in the match and produced a performance that gave the fans the feeling that the team can compete.

Hossam Hassan also spoke about a penalty that was not awarded to Egypt during the match, explaining that this decision could have changed the result. However, he did not make the referee the main focus of his comments. Instead, he focused more on the players’ performance and the spirit they showed.

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He thanked the players for the great effort they made, especially in difficult weather conditions and high temperatures. He also praised the Egyptian fans who attended and supported the team, stressing that the focus now must be on the next two matches in order to achieve the goal of qualifying for the second round.

An Administrative File That Needs a Quick Decision

Hossam Hassan’s statement about working without a contract was not the first time this issue had been mentioned. Last April, Tharwat Sweilem, a member of the Egyptian Clubs Association, revealed that Hossam Hassan and his brother Ibrahim Hassan had been working with Egypt without an official contract since February, after the legal period of the previous contract had ended.

Sweilem’s comments at the time made it clear that the issue was not a surprise inside Egyptian football. It had been known for some time. This means the file remained open for several months without a final decision, despite the importance of the stage the national team is going through.

At the time, Sweilem linked the issue to Egypt’s preparations before traveling to the United States. He said Hossam Hassan wanted the national team camp to start early, with the domestic league ending at a suitable time, so the players could have enough time to prepare.

Sweilem also explained that Egypt’s interest came first, and that the technical staff did not prefer playing friendly matches in Cairo before traveling, fearing that players could suffer injuries before the most important stage.

These details make the matter bigger than just a new statement from Hossam Hassan. The issue appears to be an administrative file that has been open for months, while the technical staff continued its work normally, without the legal form of the relationship between the staff and the Football Association being finalized.

Some may see Hossam Hassan’s continued work without an official contract as proof of his confidence in himself and his desire to serve Egypt without focusing on administrative matters. Others may see this situation as a sign of administrative confusion, especially because it concerns a major national team preparing to compete in a global tournament.

The truth is that both views have some logic. Hossam Hassan chose to focus on the pitch and not open the door to problems, and this counts in his favor, because the team needs calm and stability during this period. But at the same time, the absence of a contract cannot be considered normal or simple.

Egypt needs complete clarity in every file, whether on or off the pitch. Stability does not only mean good performances or positive results. It also means having a clear system that protects the coach, the association, and the players from any controversy that may appear at a sensitive time.

As Egypt continues its World Cup journey, it would be better to settle this file quickly, so it does not become a new source of pressure on the technical staff or a repeated talking point away from the pitch.

In the end, Hossam Hassan finds himself facing two tests at the same time. The first test is on the pitch, where he is trying to lead Egypt to the second round of the World Cup. The second is a test of trust, as he tries to prove that the national coach can carry responsibility and work under pressure, even in the toughest circumstances.

As for the Egyptian Football Association, it must understand that success in major tournaments does not start only with the players’ performance or the coach’s decisions. It also starts with managing important files in a clear and organized way, before small details turn into big crises.