Egypt’s national soccer team touched down at El-Alamein to thousands of cheering fans after the most successful World Cup campaign in the country’s history. The Pharaohs lost 3-2 to Argentina in the Round of 16, but what they accomplished before that final whistle has rewritten the record books and, perhaps more unexpectedly, moved crypto markets.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be remembered in Cairo for a long time. Egypt secured its first-ever World Cup victory with a 3-1 win over New Zealand, then reached the knockout rounds for the first time in the tournament’s history. For a nation that had only qualified four times prior, in 1934, 1990, 2018, and 2026, this was the soccer equivalent of a moon landing.
A heartbreaker against Argentina
Egypt built a 2-0 lead against Argentina before the two-time defending champions mounted a comeback to win 3-2, sending Egypt home in the most painful way possible.
Coach Hossam Hassan and the Egyptian Football Association raised concerns about controversial VAR decisions during the match. None of that dampened the homecoming. Thousands packed the arrival area at El-Alamein, and Mohamed Salah, the team’s talisman, was at the center of the celebration.
