Egyptian coach Hossam Hassan waved a Palestinian flag on the pitch after his team’s victory over Australia in the World Cup, saying he dedicated it to both Egyptians and Palestinians.
“My heart and soul are with them,” he said in an emotional post-match interview.
Egypt won its debut in the elimination round of the World Cup by beating Australia 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the round of 32 on Friday.
The victory comes at Egypt’s fourth World Cup.
A video of Hassan on social media shows him walking across the field with the flag in his hand as people chanted «free free Palestine.» The video went viral.
The fate of more than 2 million Palestinians in Gaza, largely displaced and living among ruins, remains uncertain after a war that began when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023. Israel’s retaliation has killed a total of 73,066 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
The war has sparked pro-Palestinian protests around the world, with some athletes also expressing solidarity.
Earlier this year, Lamine Yamal waved a Palestinian flag during the celebration of the Spanish national title. The act sparked backlash from Israel’s defense minister, who criticized the teenage Barcelona star and said his action «incites hatred».
Hassan is not known to be religious or affiliated with any political group. In the eighties and nineties he was adored by the youth, a street footballer who played in the slums.
On Friday he said he was dedicating the game to the «good and noble» Egyptian and Palestinian people.
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It was not immediately clear whether FIFA would take action and did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It has previously tried to limit what it considers political speech on the field.
During the 2022 Qatar World Cup, some European teams were banned from wearing armbands in support of the ‘One Love’ campaign, an international anti-discrimination initiative.
During Iran’s matches at this World Cup, some Iranian Americans in Los Angeles tried to display the country’s pre-revolutionary flag and block a FIFA ban on that flag. They lost in court and the ban was upheld.
Published on July 4, 2026
