Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan believes his side left the FIFA World Cup 2026 with something more valuable than qualification after insisting the Pharaohs had earned the respect of the football world despite their agonising 3-2 defeat to Argentina.
The seven-time African champions looked set for one of the greatest victories in their history after opening a two-goal lead against the defending world champions before Lionel Messi inspired a stunning late comeback that sent Argentina into the quarterfinals.
Although devastated by the result, Hassan chose to celebrate the commitment of his players, arguing that their performance had elevated Egypt’s reputation on the global stage.
“I thank my players, the technical staff, the medical team and everyone involved,” Hassan said after the match.
“Today I stood with a national team made up almost entirely of players from the Egyptian league. We faced some of the best and most expensive footballers in the world, yet we competed with them.”
The former Egypt striker said his players deserved enormous credit for refusing to be intimidated by the reigning world champions, describing their display as proof that Egyptian football could compete with the elite.
“We came out with honour. I am proud of my team, proud of my country, proud that I represent an Arab and African nation,” he said.
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Hassan also thanked Egyptian supporters for standing behind the team throughout the tournament, insisting their backing had strengthened the squad during one of the country’s finest World Cup campaigns in decades.
“The millions of Egyptian fans should be proud. The team will continue to develop and become even stronger,” he added.
The 59-year-old suggested Egypt had shown they belonged among football’s biggest nations after reaching the knockout stages and pushing Argentina to the brink of elimination.
The dramatic defeat ended Egypt’s World Cup campaign, but Hassan believes the performances in the United States, Canada and Mexico have changed perceptions of Egyptian football.
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While Argentina progressed after Enzo Fernández’s stoppage time winner completed an extraordinary turnaround, Hassan maintained that Egypt had achieved something equally significant.
“We earned the respect of the whole world,” he said.
“That is something nobody can take away from us.”
