Egypt given hero’s welcome after historic FIFA world cup 2026 run

Egypt’s national football team received a spectacular welcome from thousands of jubilant supporters on Friday after returning home from the FIFA World Cup 2026, where they delivered the country’s finest-ever performance on football’s biggest stage. Led by captain Mohamed Salah, the Pharaohs made history by reaching the Round of 16 for the first time before narrowly losing to defending champions Argentina in one of the tournament’s most dramatic matches.

Crowds gathered outside El-Alamein International Airport hours before the team’s arrival, waving Egyptian flags and chanting patriotic songs as they celebrated a campaign that captured the imagination of football fans across the nation. Alongside Egyptian flags, many supporters also carried Palestinian flags in a show of solidarity with the people of Gaza. Some fans displayed posters of head coach Hossam Hassan wrapped in both the Egyptian and Palestinian flags, reflecting his public support for the Palestinian cause throughout the tournament.

Egypt’s remarkable journey included several historic milestones. The team secured its first-ever FIFA World Cup victory before progressing to the knockout stage for the first time in the nation’s history. Their dramatic penalty shootout victory over Australia earned them a place among the tournament’s final 16 teams and sparked celebrations across the country.

The Pharaohs came agonisingly close to producing one of the World Cup’s greatest upsets against Argentina. Egypt held a commanding 2-0 lead late in the match, but the defending world champions staged an extraordinary comeback, scoring three goals in the closing minutes to seal a thrilling 3-2 victory and eliminate the African side.

Despite the heartbreaking defeat, Egyptian supporters remained immensely proud of their team’s achievements. Fans danced to the rhythm of drums, sang national songs, and wore jerseys bearing Mohamed Salah’s name as they welcomed the players home. Handwritten banners reading, “You made us proud,” reflected the overwhelming appreciation for the squad’s historic efforts.

Supporter Mohamed Gehad, who travelled to El-Alamein Airport to greet the team, praised the players’ determination and fighting spirit.

“We are extremely proud of the team,” he said. “They played with courage and confidence throughout the tournament, and today we are here to celebrate everything they achieved.”

Another fan, Eyad Ahmed, described Egypt’s World Cup campaign as a landmark moment for the nation’s football history, saying the players had reached heights no previous Egyptian side had accomplished.

As the team boarded an open-top bus for a victory parade through the coastal city, thousands of supporters lined the streets, cheering and waving flags while following the bus until it disappeared from sight.

During the celebrations, Mohamed Salah shared a heartfelt message on social media, promising to build on the success achieved in the tournament.

“I will do everything in my power to make this the beginning of a new era for Egyptian football on the international stage,” Salah wrote.

The squad is expected to meet President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Saturday. The Egyptian leader congratulated the team on social media, commending their “honourable performance” and thanking them for making the country proud.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian Football Association has formally protested the officiating in Tuesday’s Round of 16 clash with Argentina. Coach Hossam Hassan claimed the refereeing decisions unfairly influenced the outcome, although FIFA’s refereeing chief, Pierluigi Collina, dismissed the allegations as unfounded.

Hassan also gained widespread admiration in Gaza during the tournament after waving a Palestinian flag on the pitch following Egypt’s victory over Australia and dedicating the win to the Palestinian people. Ahead of the Argentina match, he described the suffering in Gaza as “a shame on the world” and urged the global football community to provide greater support.

Throughout Egypt’s World Cup campaign, thousands of Palestinians gathered in temporary cafés built inside tents and makeshift shelters to watch the Pharaohs’ matches, highlighting the strong emotional connection many felt with the Egyptian team during the tournament.