Egypt’s U17 national team, made up of players born in 2009, is entering a new stage of preparation after head coach Hussein Abdel Latif announced the preliminary squad for a closed training camp ahead of the Gulf Cup in Qatar.

The coaching staff selected 25 players for the camp, with the squad expected to be reduced to 23 before the team travels to Qatar on October 14.

Monza striker Amir Abu El-Ezz is among the notable names in the preliminary squad, as the coaching staff looks to use the tournament to improve fitness, teamwork and understanding between the players.

Egypt recently returned from an international friendly tournament in Switzerland, where the team faced South Korea, England, Colombia and Canada.

The Egyptian side finished the tournament in sixth place, but the coaching staff viewed the matches as an important part of the preparation plan because they gave the players experience against different football styles.

Tough Group

Egypt were drawn in Group B of the Gulf Cup alongside defending champions Saudi Arabia, as well as Iraq, Kuwait and Yemen.

Group A includes hosts Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, Oman and China.

A total of 10 national teams will take part in the tournament, giving Egypt another chance to play competitive matches before the biggest challenge of the year.

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The competition will take place in Qatar from mid-October until November 4, 2026.

Under the tournament format, the top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals.

The winner of Group A will face the runner-up of Group B, while the winner of Group B will play against the runner-up of Group A.

World Cup Next

For Egypt’s coaching staff, the Gulf Cup is not only an important tournament but also one of the final stages of preparation before the U17 World Cup.

The World Cup is scheduled to begin on November 19, with Egypt drawn in Group A alongside Qatar, Panama and Greece.

Hussein Abdel Latif will use the coming period to decide on his strongest squad and give players another chance to prove they deserve a place in the team.

The Gulf Cup will also test Egypt’s ability to deal with competitive pressure, especially in a difficult group that includes strong teams such as Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

After the Switzerland tournament, Egypt now move into a more serious stage of their preparations, with the Gulf Cup providing an important test before the main challenge at the World Cup.