Egypt celebrates historic World Cup run with massive Cairo fan fest

The Egypt national football team reached the round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup – its best ever performance – after victories over New Zealand and a penalty‑shootout win over Australia, and a draw with Belgium and Iran. Following the tournament, the squad was greeted at Al Alamein airport by President Abdel Fattah Al‑Sisi and thousands of supporters.

Two public celebrations were organised. The first, in the coastal city of Al Alamein, featured an open‑bus arrival, music and fireworks, but sparked online debate over the venue’s distance from many fans. A second, larger event was held at Cairo International Stadium, drawing up to 40,000 spectators, a concert by singer Tamer Hosny and a parade of the players on an open bus. Not all key players attended: Mohamed Salah missed the night‑time ceremony while striker Hamza Abdel Kareem was already in Spain preparing for the upcoming season with FC Barcelona, explanations linked to transfer negotiations.

The celebrations, dubbed “100 Million Thanks”, highlighted widespread national pride and underscored the team's historic achievement, while also prompting discussion about fan accessibility and the role of the government in organising large‑scale sporting events.