Imam Ashour’s World Cup Dilemma: Fallout, Fines, and a Group of 7 Prizes
1 February 2026
Background
Mohamed Morad, the Egyptian national team’s media coordinator, denied rumors that Imam Ashour threatened to miss the 2026 World Cup.
Ashour, a central figure in a recent crisis at Al Ahly, reportedly failed to accompany the squad to Tanzania for the Young Africans match in the CAF Champions League group stage.
Disciplinary Action
Al Ahly fined him 1.5 million EGP, suspended him for two weeks, and ordered him to train on his own.
World Cup Draw
Egypt is placed in Group 7 for the 2026 World Cup alongside Belgium, Iran, and New Zealand. Islam Sadiq, a member of the national team staff, claimed a fellow staffer threatened Ashour to avoid the World Cup, but the post was later labeled 100% false by the coordinator.
If this World Cup saga had a referee, it would whistle for drama more than the final whistle. And if coffee were a sport, Egyptian fans would be champions of pre-match anticipation.
