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Group G Fixtures

Egypt face Belgium, New Zealand and Iran in Group G — widely considered one of the more favourable draws for an African team. The Pharaohs are backed as strong second favourites behind Belgium to reach the Round of 32, with Mohamed Salah carrying the hopes of a nation seeking their first-ever knockout stage appearance.

All times local. Under the 48-team format, the top two qualify directly; the best eight third-placed teams also advance to the Round of 32.

Manager: Hossam Hassan

Hossam Hassan, appointed in February 2024, holds a unique place in Egyptian football history: he is Egypt’s all-time leading scorer and the first Egyptian to both play at a World Cup and coach the national team at one. His appointment brought a deep understanding of what the team needs and an attacking philosophy built around Egypt’s best players.

Hassan deploys a 4-3-3 with an inverted midfield triangle — compact defensively and devastating on the counter-attack. The system is designed to maximise Mohamed Salah’s threat from the right channel, with Marmoush providing the secondary attacking option and Trezeguet offering width and pressing from the left. Defensively, the side sits in a mid/low block, protecting central zones and inviting pressure before breaking quickly.

Key Players to Watch

Mohamed Salah (RW/Captain, Liverpool) — Egypt’s talisman and the reason this team can compete at the highest level. Salah became the all-time leading scorer in CAF World Cup qualifying history with 20 goals, including nine in the 2026 campaign alone. He effectively dragged Egypt to this tournament. At the World Cup, everything is built around maximising his involvement in transitions — his movement, finishing and penalty-taking make him Egypt’s single biggest weapon.

Omar Marmoush (ST/W, Manchester City) — One of Africa’s fastest-rising forwards, with the pace and versatility to play as a central striker or wide forward. Marmoush gives Egypt a secondary goal threat and high-intensity pressing from the front, forming a dangerous partnership with Salah in the attack.

Mohamed Abdelmonem (CB, Nice) — The Ligue 1-based centre-back who anchors Egypt’s defensive structure with aerial dominance and progressive passing. His composure and organisational ability are crucial in a team that relies on keeping the block compact.

Mahmoud Trezeguet (W, Al Ahly) — Provides width, tracking runs and set-piece delivery from the right or left channel. Trezeguet’s work-rate off the ball is key to maintaining Hassan’s compact block, while his crossing and dead-ball delivery create set-piece opportunities.

Full 26-Man Squad

Goalkeepers

Defenders

Midfielders

Forwards

World Cup History

Egypt have a long and often overlooked World Cup history. They were the first African team at a World Cup — appearing in 1934, where they lost 4-2 to Hungary in a straight knockout. Their second appearance came in 1990, where they drew with both the Netherlands and Republic of Ireland before losing to England and going out at the group stage. Most recently in 2018, they lost all three group matches in Russia, with Salah carrying a shoulder injury from the Champions League final days earlier.

2026 is Egypt’s fourth World Cup and they have yet to progress beyond the group stage — a record of two draws and five defeats in seven matches. With a healthy Salah, a favourable draw and one of their best squads in years, the opportunity to finally break that record has never been more real.

Form and Betting Odds

Egypt’s recent form has been strong. In CAF qualifying, Salah scored nine goals as they cruised through their group. Key friendlies showed their quality — a 4-0 win in Saudi Arabia, a goalless draw against Spain in Barcelona, and a 1-0 home win over Russia. Their defensive numbers are excellent: averaging just 0.2 goals conceded per game in recent fixtures.

Betting markets back Egypt heavily to qualify. Fox Sports has them at -340 to advance from Group G — implying roughly 77% probability — making them clear second favourites behind Belgium and well ahead of Iran and New Zealand. CAF and media coverage describe this as one of the most favourable draws an African team has received, with qualification viewed as expected rather than a long shot.

For Egypt betting tips and the latest odds on Salah and the Pharaohs, visit our World Cup 2026 Betting Tips page and find the best odds at Nigeria’s top betting sites.