File Photo: Egypt U-17 boss Ahmed El-Kass. Photo courtesy of EFA.
Qatar will host the U-17 World Cup from 3 to 27 November and El-Kass is confident the event will not only benefit his squad but also help all participating Arab nations.
Alongside Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, the UAE, Morocco, and hosts Qatar will compete in the tournament.
“I think having such a prestigious event as the World Cup in an Arab country like Qatar is fantastic,” El-Kass told FIFA on Monday.
“It’s a boost for all the Arab teams because it gives players a sense of comfort and confidence. The atmosphere and climate will be familiar to us, which will help our players adapt quickly and deliver strong performances.”
After a 28-year absence from the competition, Egypt qualified for the World Cup through the play-offs, and El-Kass is proud of his team’s achievement.
“Reaching the World Cup was a dream of mine. Since the team first came together, I’ve spoken with the players about our main objective being to qualify,” he said.
“We knew there would be obstacles, but we took it step by step and ultimately succeeded. While it’s an honor just to be going to Qatar, we’re not just here to participate—we’re here to compete, just like every other team.”
El-Kass acknowledged the challenges ahead, noting that Egypt’s long absence from both African and global competitions had affected the players, but expressed optimism for their performance.
“We’ll give it our all and aim to go as far as possible in this global event,” he added.
The coach also expressed respect for the teams in Egypt’s group, which includes Venezuela, England, and Haiti.
“It’s certainly a strong group, and the matches will be tough,” he said.
“There are no easy groups in the World Cup, and we respect all the teams.
“We’ve already started analyzing our opponents to identify their strengths and weaknesses, and we’re working on the best strategy for each match.
“I hope we live up to expectations and deliver good performances in the tournament.” he concluded.
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