Egypt manager Hossam Hassan has named a 27-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with a few notable surprises.
Nantes striker Mostafa Mohamed misses out, with the Egyptian head coach instead turning to the uncapped attacking pair Hamza Abdelkarim and Aqtay Abdalla.
Despite having 60 caps and 14 goals to his name, Mostafa Mohamed has struggled for form with both Egypt and Nantes, who were relegated to Ligue 2.
Hamza Abdelkarim, 18, joined FC Barcelona’s under-19 side earlier this year, while Aqtay Abdalla, 22, has impressed with ENPPI this season, but just scored four goals in 12 league appearances.
Meanwhile, Pyramids winger Mostafa Ziko also earns his first call-up, while his club-mate, left-back Karim Hafez, is another surprise inclusion, having last been capped in 2019.
One player will have to be cut from the final list as World Cup squads are limited to 26 players.
Egypt’s training camp starts on Thursday, May 21, with the Pharaohs set to play two friendlies before the World Cup. They first face Russia at the New Capital Stadium on May 28, before travelling to the United States to take on Brazil in Ohio on June 6.
The Pharaohs will kick off their World Cup campaign against Belgium in Seattle on June 15, before travelling to Vancouver, Canada, to face New Zealand on June 21. They will then wrap up their group-stage campaign against Iran in Seattle on June 26.
Goalkeepers
Mohamed El Shenawy (Al Ahly)
Mostafa Shobeir (Al Ahly)
El Mahdy Soliman (Zamalek)
Mohamed Alaa (El Gouna)
Defenders
Yasser Ibrahim (Al Ahly)
Mohamed Hany (Al Ahly)
Hossam Abdelmaguid (Zamalek)
Ramy Rabia (Al Ain, UAE)
Ahmed Abou El Fotouh (Zamalek)
Mohamed Abdelmonem (Nice, France)
Tarek Alaa (ZED)
Karim Hafez (Pyramids)
Central Midfielders
Hamdy Fathy (Al-Wakrah)
Mohanad Lasheen (Pyramids)
Marwan Attia (Al Ahly)
Mahmoud Saber (ZED)
Nabil Emad “Donga” (Al-Najma, Saudi Arabia)
Emam Ashour (Al Ahly)
Attacking Midfielders/Wingers
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, England)
Trézéguet (Al Ahly)
Haissem Hassan (Oviedo, Spain)
Ibrahim Adel (Nordsjælland, Denmark)
Omar Marmoush (Manchester City, England)
Zizo (Al Ahly)
Mostafa Ziko (Pyramids)
Attackers
Hamza Abdelkarim (FC Barcelona, Spain)
Aqtay Abdallah (ENNPI)
