Haitham Hassan. Photo: Real Oviedo Official Facebook account
The 24-year-old winger, of Egyptian, Tunisian and French descent, has completed the necessary paperwork to switch international allegiance.
The Pharaohs staff has been in talks with him since last summer and he was even expected to join an October camp but the move has been delayed.
Hassan began his professional career with French club Chateauroux in 2018 before moving to Villarreal in 2020. He has scored 15 goals and provided 22 assists in 246 career appearances.
Coach Hossam Hassan has also handed a first call-up to Zamalek forward Nasser Mansi.
Mansi (28 years) has been in strong form for Zamalek this season, scoring six goals and providing six assists in all competitions.
Nice defender Mohamed Abdelmonem has also been called up for international duty for the first time in a year after recovering from an ACL injury with Nice. He has resumed full trainings but hasn't featured in any official game for his French side.
On the other hand, Liverpool forward and Egypt captain Mohamed Salah is absent from the 26-man list announced by Hassan after sustaining an injury against Galatasaray on Wednesday.
Egypt will face Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on 27 March before travelling to Barcelona to take on Spain at Espanyol’s RCDE Stadium on 31 March, as part of their preparations for the 2026 World Cup.
Egypt have been drawn in Group G for the 2026 World Cup, where they will face Belgium, Iran and New Zealand.
Egypt 26-man squad:
Goalkeepers: Mohamed El Shenawy (Ahly), Mostafa Shobeir (Ahly), El Mahdi Soliman (Zamalek), Mohamed Alaa (Gouna)
Defenders: Mohamed Hany (Ahly), Tarek Alaa (ZED), Rami Rabia (Al Ain – UAE), Mohamed Abdel Moneim (Nice – France), Yasser Ibrahim (Ahly), Hossam Abdelmaguid (Zamalek), Khaled Sobhi (Masry), Ahmed Fatouh (Zamalek), Ahmed ‘Koka’ Nabil (Ahly)
Midfielders: Hamdy Fathy (Al-Wakrah – Qatar), Marwan Attia (Ahly), Mohanad Lasheen (Pyramids), Mahmoud Saber (ZED), Ahmed ‘Zizo’ Sayed (Ahly), Emam Ashour (Ahly), Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan (Ahly), Omar Marmoush (Manchester City – England), Ibarhim Adel (FC Nordsjælland – Denmark), Haissam Hassan (Real Oviedo – Spain), Islam Eissa (Ceramica Cleopatra)
Forwards: Mostafa Mohamed (Nantes – France), Nasser Mansi (Zamalek)
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