The countdown to the 2026 World Cupis on! Each day ahead of the tournament’s return to North America, Yahoo Sports will highlight an insight or moment that showcases just how grand the world’s biggest sporting spectacle has become — even beyond the expanded field of this year’s global event.
Egypt became the first Arab and African team to qualify for the World Cup when it took part in the 1934 tournament in Italy. It would be 56 years before the Pharoahs would return and then another 28 before making a third appearance.
After missing out four years ago, Egypt qualified for the 2026 World Cup and is looking to do something it's yet to achieve in their three previous trips to the global tournament: win.
Egypt's time at the 1934 World Cup was short. The format changed to a straight knockout event, which saw the Pharoahs ousted in their first match by Hungary. Italia '90 was the usual group-stage format, and despite drawing Netherlands in its opening match, Egypt failed to get a win against Ireland and England and finished bottom of Group F. Egypt exited the 2018 World Cup in similar fashion, losing all three matches and finishing last in Group A.
Now grouped with Belgium, Iran and New Zealand for 2026, Egypt is hoping to avoid another early exit and earn its first World Cup win in the process.
This will likely be the last hurrah for Mohamed Salah, who is second all-time among Egypt national team players with 67 international goals in 115 appearances. He is also tied for the honor of being the country’s all-time goal scorer in a World Cup. His two goals is tied with Abdelrahman Fawzy, who netted a pair in 1934.
Salah, who will turn 34 on the day of Egypt’s opening match against Belgium, is the team’s biggest name. His goal-scoring exploits will be relied upon in order to make this World Cup considered a success.
