Egypt Clinches World Cup 2026 Qualification with a Narrow 1-0 Win Over Guinea-Bissau
12 October 2025
Match Timeline
Egypt closed its World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign with a 1-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau on Sunday at Cairo Stadium, finishing atop Group I in Africa’s qualifiers and earning a spot in the finals. The win keeps alive Egypt’s dream of a fourth World Cup appearance, after 1934, 1990, and 2018, with a large crowd turning the stadium into a sea of celebrations.
Mohamed Hamdi provided the decisive moment, rising highest to head in a cross from Ahmed Nabil “Koka” in the 10th minute. The early strike set the tone as Egypt controlled the tempo, displaying the organization they’ve become known for while the supporters cheered long into the night.
Egypt then defended stoutly, recording a sixth consecutive clean sheet in the campaign and completing the qualifiers without a defeat—one of the rarer feats in Egyptian football history. The result focused minds on the bigger goal: a place on football’s biggest stage in 2026, a tournament hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Coach Hossam Hassan opted to rest several senior players, including Mohamed Salah, and goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy, while Omar Marmoush was in the stands due to injury. The decision highlighted a pragmatic approach, prioritizing qualification while giving squad members a chance to contribute in the long run.
The first half featured a bright start as Egypt implemented a plan with several lineup changes, keeping the suspended Hamdi Fathi and Marwan Attia blocked from duty. The hosts pressed early, found a breakthrough through Hamdi’s header, and momentarily shifted the momentum in their favor as the half unfolded.
Egypt continued to press, with Zizo delivering a dangerous cross and Ibrahim Adel testing the goalkeeper with a late header over the bar. The defense remained vigilant, repelling a handful of Guinea-Bissau forays and keeping the scoreline favorable at the interval.
In the second half, Guinea offered an early reply, but Egypt’s rearguard remained compact. A clever run from Trezeguiyeh and a near-miss from Ibrahim Adel kept the crowd engaged, while coach Hassan introduced Mahmoud Saber in midfield to refresh the engine room and maintain control of the game.
As the minutes wore on, Egypt’s lead stayed intact. A late substitute swap—Mahmoud Saber replacing Koka—gave the team a fresh presence and helped see out the match with discipline, sealing a historic qualification for the 2026 tournament.
By the final whistle, the Egyptians had not only secured progression but also demonstrated it can win tight games while preserving a clean sheet—a combination that bodes well for the future and confirms the feel-good story of the campaign.
Punchline 1: If precision were football, Hamdi’s header would be the headshot of the night—clean, clinical, and replay-worthy.
Punchline 2: Egypt’s defense is so tight right now that even the ball filed a complaint for harassment and asked for a longer net to escape their grip.
