In a thrilling final showdown, the Egyptian queens defeated powerhouse Brazil 3-2 on penalties after a tense 1-1 draw in regulation time. The Pharaohs took an early lead through Yara Sabri before Brazil equalised late in the first half. The second half was a fierce battle of tactics, stamina and willpower, but neither side could find the winner, sending the game into a dramatic penalty shootout.
Egypt’s nerves of steel prevailed. Goalkeeper Souheila Hussein stood tall, saving two penalties, while teammates Sabri and Sally Mansour converted confidently to seal Egypt’s historic world crown — the first ever for an African or Arab nation in the history of the women’s mini-football World Cup.
The final was attended by several dignitaries, including Prime Minister of Iraq’s Kurdistan region Masrour Barzani, Director of Youth and Sports in Kurdistan Sardar Ismail, President of the International Mini-Football Federation (IMF) Mohamed Al-Dosari, and Vice President of the IMF, President of the Arab and Egyptian Mini-Football federations, and head of the Egyptian delegation Ahmed Samir Suleiman.
Following the final whistle, scenes of jubilation swept across the pitch as the Egyptian players, coaching staff, and delegation celebrated the monumental victory with tears of pride and joy. Egyptian fans and local Kurdish supporters waved Egyptian flags and chanted passionately in celebration of the African champions.
Speaking after the match, Suleiman, the visionary founder and president of the Egyptian Mini-Football Federation, expressed profound pride in the team’s achievement.
“This triumph is the fruit of years of dedication, perseverance and belief,” Suleiman said. “We started from an idea to build a federation from the ground up and to make Egypt a global name in mini-football. Today, our women’s team has turned that dream into history.”
Suleiman dedicated the victory to President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, “the builder of modern Egypt”, and to Ashraf Sobhi, minister of youth and sports, “for his constant support of all national teams”.
The team’s captain and players echoed the gratitude, dedicating their World Cup title to President Al-Sisi, saying how his vision for empowering Egyptian youth and women in sports had inspired them to reach the highest levels of global competition.
The Egyptian squad included Hussein, Sabri, Mansour, Marwa Mohamed, Nourhan Amr, Amira Lotfi, Marwa Talaat, Amal Hussein, Shorouk Ibrahim, Asmaa Rabie, Manar Hamid, and Heidi Gaber.
The technical staff was led by Ahmed Al-Qadi (head coach), Ezza Hussein (assistant coach), Hisham Al-Shabasi (goalkeeping coach), Ahmed Nahla (team manager), and Reda Awad, member of the Egyptian Mini-Football Federation board, serving as the team’s doctor.
The delegation also featured Fatma Al-Tabie, board member and head of the women’s national teams, and Ahmed Al-Shennawi, international refereeing expert and supervisor of the IMF Refereeing Committee for the World Cup. Egyptian referees Khaled Amin and Mohamed Abdel-Meguid also represented the nation among the tournament’s officiating crew.
Egypt’s journey to the title was nothing short of spectacular. The team opened the group stage with a stunning 30-0 victory over Pakistan, followed by competitive matches against Brazil and other strong nations. After advancing from the group stage, Egypt overcame host nation Kurdistan Iraq in the semi-finals after a tense 1-1 draw, clinching victory in another nerve-wracking penalty shootout thanks to two crucial saves by goalkeeper Hussein.
From the very beginning, the Pharaohs displayed not only technical brilliance but also the kind of courage, unity and tactical intelligence that define champions. They captivated fans across Erbil, including local Kurdish families who brought their children waving Egyptian flags to cheer the team with enthusiasm and warmth.
This victory cements Egypt’s place at the summit of world mini-football and serves as a symbol of what determination, teamwork and national pride can achieve. It is a triumph not only for Egyptian sport but for Arab and African women everywhere, a beacon of empowerment and a source of inspiration for generations to come.
As the Egyptian flag soared high in Erbil, the world witnessed more than a championship win; it witnessed the rise of a legacy — one built on passion, perseverance and the unbreakable spirit of Egypt’s daughters.
Mini-football is played in a 5-a-side format, with additional variants of 6-a-side, 7-a-side, 8-a-side, 9-a-side and indoor football. All games are played on artificial turf, in contrast to futsal which is played on a hard court indoors.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 9 October, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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