Hundreds of euphoric supporters welcomed the Egyptian national football team on Friday after the country’s best-ever performance at the World Cup, which ended with a thrilling last-16 exit to Argentina.
A sea of fans dressed in red, white and black filled the grounds outside El-Alamein airport, where the Pharaohs boarded an open-top bus for a parade through the coastal city.
“We are very happy with the team,” said supporter Mohamed Gehad AFP at the airport where he had traveled to welcome the players.
“Their spirits were high, and ours are high as we welcome them.”
The players are expected to meet President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Saturday, who took to social media to thank the team for its “honorable performance”. | Photo credit: AP
The players are expected to meet President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Saturday, who took to social media to thank the team for its “honorable performance”. | Photo credit: AP
Supporters waved Egyptian and Palestinian flags in support of nearby Gaza, as well as a poster showing coach Hossam Hossan draping both flags over himself during the tournament.
Egypt claimed its first-ever World Cup victory before later reaching the last 16 teams at the global spectacle for the first time after beating Australia on penalties.
The Egyptians came close to one of the biggest upsets of the tournament against Argentina. They led 2-0 with just minutes to play before the defending champions recorded an astonishing 3-2 comeback win.
But the fans remained in high spirits, dancing to the beat of the drums, singing patriotic songs and wearing shirts with the name of team captain and former Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah. Others held handwritten banners that read: «You made us proud, men.»
“They reached a stage they had never reached before and we are proud of them,” said another fan Eyad Ahmed AFP.
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– ‘New beginning’ –
As the team bus pulled away from the airport, flags flew above the crowd and supporters streamed alongside the vehicle until it disappeared from view.
“I will do everything in my power to ensure that this is a new beginning for Egyptian football on the international stage,” Salah wrote on social media during the celebrations.
The players are expected to meet President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Saturday, who took to social media to thank the team for its “honorable performance”.
The Egyptian Football Association has also filed a complaint against the officiating team for Tuesday’s match, with coach Hassan accusing the officials of injustice, despite FIFA referee chief Pierluigi Collina rejecting what he called «unfounded accusations».
Hassan won praise in Gaza after waving a Palestinian flag on the pitch following Egypt’s victory over Australia and dedicating the victory to the Palestinian people.
At his pre-match press conference on Monday, Hassan said the suffering of the Palestinian people was a «shame on the world» as he called on the football world to do more to come to their aid.
During the tournament, thousands of Palestinians gathered in makeshift cafes, set up in tents or built from corrugated iron salvaged from damaged buildings, to watch Egypt’s matches.
Published on July 10, 2026
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