From enthusiastic gatherings in North America to packed cafés in Cairo, Egyptians around the world are coming together with a shared purpose of backing their national team on football’s biggest stage.
When the Egyptian national football team ran out onto the pitch in Cleveland, Ohio, on Saturday for their pre-tournament friendly against Brazil, they were greeted by something they might not have expected so far from home: a wall of red, white and black, the colours of the Egyptian flag and uniform. The stands were filled with thousands of Egyptians who had driven through the night, booked flights at short notice and cleared their work schedules — all to ensure the Pharaohs did not feel alone on foreign soil.
The effort had been building for weeks in WhatsApp groups that connected Egyptian communities across the co-hosts United States and Canada. “We contacted every Egyptian in the US and Canada through WhatsApp groups,” said Youssef Mohamed, one fan who made the journey. “We left our jobs and travelled for hours, bearing all the expenses, just to come and back our national team.”
Among those who turned out was Yasser Sayed, an Egyptian-American who has lived in Cleveland for years. He brought his entire family all dressed in specially printed and embroidered T-shirts bearing the words “It is in our DNA” alongside the Egyptian flag. “We cheered every single player — even Mohamed Al-Shennawi,” Sayed said, even though the goalkeeper was a substitute. “We paid tribute to all of them. I felt proud and nostalgic watching our team perform so well and prove themselves a real match for the Brazilians. I felt that the Brazilians were leaving the pitch unhappy. That was not what they had anticipated.”
Egyptian fans in attendance were also granted a rare privilege before the match: access to the team’s training session, where supporters posed for photographs with the squad and sent their affection directly to the players.
The commitment of the diaspora did not stop in Ohio. Abdel-Hamid Hussein, who attended the Cleveland match, has planned his schedule around all three of Egypt’s group fixtures, including in Vancouver against New Zealand. “We have bought tickets and arranged travel for all three matches,” Hussein said. “Whether it means catching a flight or driving hours on end, we will be there.”
Back home in Egypt, the mood is no less charged. Cafés across Cairo have erected large outdoor screens, introduced special World Cup menus and set minimum charges to manage the expected demand. Clubs and youth centres have made similar preparations, opening their doors wide for the biggest possible audiences.
Al-Ahram Weekly spoke to a number of young fans about how they plan to follow the campaign. Omar Tarek said he will stay up through the night for late kick-offs, and he is confident the team can advance to the round of 32. Yassin Abul Naga plans to gather friends at a local café rather than watch from home, despite having a television. “It is just more exciting at a café with your friends,” Abul Naga said. “It has completely different vibes.”
Ali Ahmed agreed, and added a practical note: “Thank God the matches are late. In summer the heat is unbearable during the day, but in the early hours the air is fresh and the breeze is wonderful.”
Many groups of fans say they prefer the open-air café experience, spending the late hours watching the matches, smoking shisha and soaking up the atmosphere. Other families have taken out subscriptions to the network holding the broadcast rights, reasoning that an event that comes around only once every four years — and this time with 48 teams rather than 32 — is well worth the investment.
From the streets of Cleveland to the rooftops of Cairo, Egypt’s supporters have made clear they intend to make every match feel like a national occasion. The Pharaohs have the whole nation — and its scattered global family — watching, cheering and believing.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 11 June, 2026 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.
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