Egypt has announced its preliminary squad for the upcoming World Cup, with a surprise decision to leave out Nantes striker Mostafa Mohamed while including teenage Barcelona youth player Hamza Abdelkarim.
The squad selection has sparked discussion among fans and analysts, as coach Hossam Hassan prepares to finalize the final 26-man team ahead of the tournament in North America.
Mostafa Mohamed’s omission stands out as one of the biggest talking points. The forward has struggled for consistency this season, scoring only four goals in 24 appearances for FC Nantes as the club suffered relegation from Ligue 1.
In contrast, 17-year-old Hamza Abdelkarim, who plays for FC Barcelona U19, has earned a place in the squad after impressive performances at youth level. He is widely regarded as one of Egypt’s most promising young attacking talents.
Egypt’s attack will instead be led by two of its biggest international stars, Mohamed Salah of Liverpool and Omar Marmoush of Manchester City. Both players are expected to play key roles as Egypt aims for a strong World Cup campaign.
The national team will face Russia in Cairo on May 28 in a final home friendly before traveling to the United States. After that match, the squad will be trimmed down to the official 26 players required by FIFA.
Egypt’s World Cup preparations include several high-profile friendlies. The team will face Brazil in Cleveland on June 6 before opening its World Cup campaign against Belgium in Seattle.
The group stage schedule also includes matches against New Zealand in Vancouver and Iran back in Seattle, completing a challenging set of fixtures for the North African side.
Coach Hossam Hassan has selected a broad preliminary squad covering goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards from clubs across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The final selection will depend on performance, fitness, and tactical balance during the remaining training period.
Among the goalkeepers selected are experienced names from domestic clubs, while the defensive line includes players based in Egypt, France, and the United Arab Emirates. The midfield group features a mix of domestic league players and international-based professionals.
The squad reflects Egypt’s ongoing effort to blend experienced stars with emerging talent as the team prepares for one of the most competitive international tournaments in football.
The inclusion of young players like Abdelkarim highlights a growing trend in Egyptian football toward investing in youth development and giving international exposure to promising academy players.
At the same time, the omission of established forwards like Mostafa Mohamed shows the high level of competition for places in the squad, as Egypt seeks to build its strongest possible team for the tournament.
The World Cup, scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will be a major test for Egypt as it aims to advance beyond the group stage.
With a mix of global stars, rising talent, and experienced domestic players, the final squad selection is expected to draw continued attention in the coming weeks as the team finalizes its tournament plans.
