Egypt just won its first-ever World Cup match, beating New Zealand 3-1 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage. And in the post-match glow, coach Hossam Hassan didn’t thank a sponsor, a blockchain platform, or a fan token community. He thanked Egypt’s president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
In a tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Egypt’s breakthrough moment arrived with decidedly old-school fanfare: presidential congratulations, national pride rhetoric, and zero mention of digital assets.
The victory and the politics
Hassan, who holds the unique distinction of being the only Egyptian to participate in the World Cup as both a player and a coach, was effusive in crediting al-Sisi’s support as a meaningful contributor to the squad’s morale. The president, for his part, called the result “well-deserved” and framed it as evidence of his government’s commitment to backing national sports and cultivating homegrown coaching talent.
Egypt now prepares to face Australia in its next group-stage fixture.
