The Pharaohs are the Egypt national football team, and they have won the Africa Cup of Nations more times than any other country. Their seven titles include three in a row between 2006 and 2010, and in 2026 they reached the round of 16 at a World Cup for the first time.
Egypt were the first African country to qualify for a World Cup, back in 1934, and they are run by the Egyptian Football Association, a FIFA member since 1923. Mohamed Salah is captain and Hossam Hassan, the head coach, picked the squad for the 2026 finals.
Key Takeaways
- Egypt have won the Africa Cup of Nations seven times, in 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008 and 2010.
- They have qualified for four World Cups, in 1934, 1990, 2018 and 2026, and reached the last 16 in 2026.
- Ahmed Hassan holds the national record with 184 caps.
- Egypt finished fourth at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Egypt National Team at a Glance
The table below sets out the basics on the Pharaohs.
| Detail | Egypt |
|---|---|
| Nickname | The Pharaohs |
| Governing body | Egyptian Football Association |
| FIFA member since | 1923 |
| Head coach | Hossam Hassan |
| Captain | Mohamed Salah |
| Most caps | Ahmed Hassan (184) |
| Home stadiums | Cairo Stadium and Misr Stadium |
| Kit supplier | Puma (since 2019) |
| FIFA ranking | 24th (July 2026) |
Egypt’s Seven Africa Cup of Nations Titles
Egypt won the very first Africa Cup of Nations in 1957 and again in 1959. They then waited until 1986 and 1998 for their next two titles.
The greatest run came in the 2000s, when they won three tournaments in a row, in 2006, 2008 and 2010. No other nation has done that. The tally of seven puts them clear of Cameroon, who have five, and Ghana, who have four.
That is the reason the Pharaohs are described as the most successful team in tournament history. Their three straight wins also came in three different host countries, Egypt, Ghana and Angola.
Egypt at AFCON 2025 in Morocco
Egypt won Group B, beat Benin 3-1 after extra time in the round of 16 and edged Ivory Coast 3-2 in the quarter-final. A 1-0 semi-final defeat to Senegal followed, and Egypt then lost the third-place match to Nigeria on penalties, 4-2, after a goalless draw.
Senegal and Morocco contested the final, and Morocco were later awarded the title by CAF’s Appeal Board after Senegal forfeited. The AFCON league profile gives the competition’s background.
Egypt at the World Cup
Egypt’s World Cup story has more gaps than the AFCON story, but 2026 changed the picture.
1. 1934 and 1990
Egypt became the first African country to qualify for a World Cup in 1934, after beating Mandatory Palestine in qualifying. They returned in 1990, and then did not appear again until 2018.
2. 2018: Salah’s Goal
Egypt were drawn with Saudi Arabia, Uruguay and Russia in 2018. They lost to Uruguay 1-0, Russia 3-1 and Saudi Arabia 2-1. Mohamed Salah scored Egypt’s first World Cup goal in 28 years against Russia.
3. 2026: The Best Run Yet
At the 2026 World Cup, Egypt were grouped with Belgium, New Zealand and Iran. They drew 1-1 with Belgium, beat New Zealand 2-1 and drew 1-1 with Iran to finish second in Group G on five points. That was the first time they had gone past a World Cup group stage, and it came after a long gap, since Egypt did not appear at the tournament at all between 1990 and 2018.
Belgium and Egypt finished level on five points, and Belgium topped the table on goal difference, plus four to Egypt’s plus two.
Egypt then beat Australia 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the round of 32. In the round of 16 on 7 July, Egypt led Argentina 2-0 through goals from Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Ziko, only to lose 3-2 after conceding three times late on in Atlanta. Enzo Fernandez scored the winner in stoppage time.
Egypt at the Olympics
Egypt were the first African team to compete in the Olympic football tournament, in Belgium in 1920. They finished fourth in Amsterdam in 1928, in Tokyo in 1964 and in Paris in 2024. The first two results were 36 years apart, and the Paris result came 60 years after Tokyo.
Near Misses and Heartbreaks
Egypt lost to Senegal twice in 2022, both times on penalties, with Sadio Mane scoring the winning kick on each occasion. That cost them a place at the 2022 World Cup.
Egypt also lost the 2017 AFCON final to Cameroon, 2-1, after taking the lead through Mohamed Elneny. The 2025 tournament ended in a similar way, with the Pharaohs losing the third-place match on penalties. Each time, the margin has been small.
The Players Who Define the Pharaohs
Salah is the face of the team, and the 2026 tournament was billed as his last World Cup. He was named man of the match in Egypt’s 3-2 quarter-final win over Ivory Coast at AFCON 2025.
Ahmed Hassan is the record cap holder with 184 international appearances, and Hossam Hassan, now the head coach, is the country’s all-time top scorer with 69 goals. If you are new to the term, the guide to what caps mean in football explains how international appearances are counted.
Egypt’s Domestic League
For the domestic side of Egyptian football, read the guide to the Egyptian Premier League, and check the Egyptian Premier League profile for the current competition details.
The Egyptian Premier League profile also carries the latest fixtures, results and standings, and the wider leagues hub covers every other competition we follow.
Egypt’s Next Big Test: AFCON 2027
The next major tournament is the Africa Cup of Nations in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda in 2027. The AFCON 2027 complete guide covers the hosts, venues and format.
Egypt will want to add to their seven titles, and they arrive with a fresh World Cup last-16 run behind them. Salah, the captain, and Hossam Hassan, the coach, will both be judged on what happens next.