Hossam Hassan Rewards Two Stars with Egypt Call-Up for World Cup Qualifiers

Egypt’s head coach Hossam Hassan has decided to reward two rising talents from Al Ahly and Zamalek by including them in the Pharaohs’ squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Egypt’s Upcoming Matches

The national team will begin its training camp on March 17, preparing for the 5th and 6th rounds of qualifiers:

• Egypt vs Ethiopia
• Egypt vs Sierra Leone

Egypt currently tops Group A with 10 points from three wins and one draw, ahead of Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Sierra Leone.

Two New Faces in the Egypt Squad

According to Al-Nahar TV, two young players are on Hossam Hassan’s radar:

• Karim El Debes (Al Ahly - Left Back)

  - Has played 16 matches this season.
  - 4 assists in all competitions.

• Mahmoud Gehad (Zamalek - Midfielder)

  - Joined Zamalek from Pharco in January.
  - Played key roles in wins over Ismaily (2-0) and Pharco (1-0).
  - Received a red card in the Pharco match, causing him to miss Zamalek’s 1-1 draw with Petrojet.

Final Squad Yet to Be Decided

While the squad list is not final, both El Debes and Gehad have impressed their coach and could earn their first senior call-ups as Egypt looks to secure its spot in the 2026 World Cup.