Egypt’s World Cup Quest 2026: Ranking Shifts, Potential Groups, and a Dream Back on the Big Stage
15 October 2025
Egypt’s Road to a 2026 World Cup Return
The Egypt national team booked its seat in the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, after an impressive run in the Africa qualifying campaign, during which they avoided defeat across ten rounds.
Under coach Hossam Hassan, Egypt marks its fourth World Cup appearance, following being the first Arab and African nation to attend the tournament back in 1934 in Italy.
The Pharaohs had long been away from World Cup atmosphere, returning under the late coach Mahmoud Al-Gohary in 1990 in Italy, then staying away for 28 more years before appearing in 2018 in Russia.
After missing the 2022 edition in Qatar, Egypt returns again under Hossam Hassan, the living legend, who previously wore the armband at the 1990 World Cup as a player.
The draw for the 2026 World Cup is scheduled in a broad ceremony on December 5. The edition will feature 48 teams hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The teams will be divided into 12 groups; the United States will top Group D, Mexico will be in Group A, and Canada in Group B.
Ranking and Group Projections
According to the September ranking, Egypt sits 35th in the world. With wins against Djibouti and Guinea-Bissau in October qualifiers, the Pharaohs have a chance to climb by two spots.
Egypt is expected to participate in a friendly tournament in the UAE with Uzbekistan, Iran, and Cape Verde; success in those matches could push them to 28th in the FIFA rankings.
This global standing could place Egypt in the third pot for the group stage, potentially dropping to the fourth pot if some European nations ahead in the rankings rise. That would mean facing giants like Brazil, Spain, England, France, and Argentina.
The anticipated group could also see Egypt paired with a host nation, whether the United States, Canada, or Mexico. A possible draw might place them alongside a major European or South American side as well, shaping the group dynamics.
FIFA has not announced any special measures to shield teams from same-continent matchups in the group phase. The path to the knockout stage could hinge on finishing among the top eight third-placed teams.
Among officially qualified teams, Egypt currently trails many heavyweights such as Australia, South Korea, Iran, Japan, Senegal, England, Uruguay, Colombia, Morocco, Brazil, and Argentina.
At the end of the qualifiers, additional European powers like Portugal, Spain, France, the Netherlands, and Croatia are expected to join; that could push Egypt toward the third or fourth pot, depending on outcomes ahead of them.
Historically, Egypt has faced many giants in World Cups. In 1934 they played only one match against Hungary and were eliminated; in 1990 they faced the Netherlands, England, and the Republic of Ireland in the group stage. They drew with the Netherlands and Ireland and lost to England.
Their last appearance in 2018 saw them in a group with Uruguay, Russia, and Saudi Arabia; they lost to Uruguay and Russia and then to Saudi Arabia. Egypt has not tasted a win in seven World Cup matches, with five losses and two draws.
The hard dream of playing in a World Cup has long driven Egyptian football, with waves of generations chasing the knockout dream. The 2018 breakthrough under coach Hector Cuper and captain Mohamed Salah remains a touchstone for fans hoping for a new chapter of glory.
Punchlines ahead: if the final draw gives Egypt a tough group, at least the team can claim their defense is as solid as a sandcastle against a hurricane—just don’t ask the goalie how that’s working out. And remember: in football, the odds may be stacked, but so are the punchlines. Here’s hoping the Pharaohs bring the punch to the pitch and the punchline to the podium—because a good team deserves a great joke at full time.
