Egypt will meet Brazil in a pre-World Cup warm-up on Saturday 6 June in Cleveland, Ohio, their last friendly before the 2026 World Cup begins.
Egypt are in Group G alongside Belgium, Iran and New Zealand. The Belgian encounter is first on the list, slated for 15 June.
Brazil kick off their Group C campaign against Morocco on 13 June before facing Haiti and Scotland.
Before Brazil, Egypt beat Russia in a warm-up 1-0 on Thursday night last week.
The only goal came in the 64th minute when new call-up Mustafa Ziko headed in a cross from right back Mohamed Hani. It was one of Egypt’s four shots on target from 11 attempts, and the only chance converted on the night.
In front of a lively crowd in Cairo Stadium enjoying the Eid Al-Adha holidays, along with a sprinkling of Russian fans, in only the third minute, Egypt’s midfielder Emam Ashour fired a shot from inside the area that just went wide of the left post.
In the 13th minute, a high cross from Hani four yards from goal eluded the outstretched right foot of Mahmoud Trezeguet when he should have used his left.
Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush found space for a solo run in minute 17, dribbling on the edge of the area before firing a powerful low strike just wide of the right post, past keeper Stanislav Agkatsev.
In the first real opportunity for Russia, in the 21st minute, Maksim Glushenkov sent a low cross from the left which got by both the defence and offense.
At the start of the second half, Mohanad Lashine threw his body to block a sure goal from close range. From the ensuing corner a loose ball that was latched onto was saved by reserve goalkeeper Mohamed Al-Shinnawi.
In the first minute of extra time, Egypt could have made it 2-0 after Mahmoud Saber fired from outside the area, but Agkatsev made the save before Ibrahim Adel followed up from close range, which the keeper also saved with his legs.
The game was an opportunity for Egypt’s coach Hossam Hassan to make up his mind over the 26 players who will be at the World Cup but his many substitutions – Egypt and Russia had agreed to make 11 changes – made it difficult for the Pharaohs to find sustained cohesion.
Hassan’s team controlled the key moments, posting 54 per cent possession and more shots on target. Valeriy Karpin’s Russia had their moments as well but floundered in front of goal. Shots went 11-8, with Egypt landing four on target to Russia’s one.
The victory provided Egypt a timely confidence booster before the World Cup. The result also gave Egypt another clean sheet during their pre-tournament preparations. The national team had entered the match after a 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia and a goalless draw against Spain who were world No 1 at the time, in March.
The win carried added symbolic weight for Egypt, coming eight years after Russia won 3-1 at the 2018 World Cup in their Group A encounter, a loss that ousted Egypt from the tournament after only two group games.
Team captain Mohamed Salah did not play on Thursday after Hassan decided to rest him, though the now former Liverpool star still showed his support by watching from the bench.
Russia remain suspended from official competitions by both FIFA and UEFA since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, though they have continued to play friendlies in the intervening period, some of which have received FIFA recognition, including that with Egypt. Russia used the match as part of a friendly schedule that also includes Burkina Faso and Trinidad and Tobago.
After the game, Hassan praised his players, describing the match as a demanding test ahead of the World Cup.
“We faced a strong Russian side that had clear ideas implemented on the pitch, and this match was no less demanding than the games against Spain and Saudi Arabia,” he said.
“It was a difficult match, and the national team benefited from the experience. Why should we downplay our effort? On the contrary, we achieved what we wanted with strong preparation.”
Hassan also defended his highly controversial decision to omit Nantes striker Mustafa Mohamed from the World Cup squad, leaving the team without a recognised centre forward.
He insisted such decisions should be viewed as part of a coach’s tactical vision. “Top players around the world get left out, and things go on normally,” he told the post-match press conference.
“In Egypt, we are used to saying that when a foreign coach excludes a player, it is simply the coach’s vision and philosophy. No one questions a foreign coach about his choices. So, consider me a foreign coach.
“I don’t care about a player’s name or club,” Hassan said. “My decisions are purely technical and made in consultation with the coaching staff. Throughout history, neither Ibrahim Hassan [Hossam’s assistant twin brother] nor I have ever favoured anyone.”
Back to Brazil, the most successful team in the history of the World Cup, and the only team to have played in every edition, with a record five titles (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002) but haven’t won the World Cup in 24 years. Interestingly, the 1970 and 1994 titles also had a 24-year gap – and the drought ended in 1994 with the title won in the US, the country that will host the 2026 final.
Another coincidence: the three teams in Group C – Brazil, Morocco and Scotland –all faced each other in the group stage in 1998.
The Seleção come into this World Cup sixth in the world (Egypt 29th), but they still have enormous talent. Star Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr is probably Brazil’s most potent attacking weapon with his pace, trickery and goal threat.
Not far behind is injury-plagued Neymar, 34, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals but who has not played for the national team since suffering a serious knee injury in October 2023.
Neymar is currently sidelined with a grade 2 muscle strain in his right calf. His recovery is expected to take two to three weeks. As a result, he is expected to miss the Egypt friendly, making his availability for Brazil’s World Cup opener against Morocco a major doubt.
In addition to Neymar and Vinicius Jr, Brazil have an abundance of talent with Liverpool’s Alisson in goal, Raphinha of Barcelona and Marquinhos, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhaes, three finalists in the UEFA Champions League.
Of course, Brazil have at the helm legendary coach Carlo Ancelotti who last year became Brazil’s first permanent foreign manager. He has won five Champions League trophies as a manager across stints at Real Madrid and AC Milan. He has also won the title in all five of Europe’s big five leagues.
However, Ancelotti has never managed a country, and the results so far have been mixed with friendly victories over Colombia and Chile and a 2-1 defeat to France in March.
The Italian great, whose recent contract extension will go through the 2030 World Cup, has worked with some of the Brazilian squad before, including Vinicius Jr.
Egypt’s final 26-man squad for the World Cup:
Goalkeepers: Mohamed Al-Shinnawi (Ahly), Mustafa Shobeir (Ahly), Al-Mahdi Suleiman (Zamalek), Mohamed Alaa (Gouna).
Defenders: Mohamed Hani, Yasser Ibrahim (Ahly), Tarek Alaa (ZED FC), Rami Rabia (Al-Ain - UAE), Hamdi Fathi (Al Wakrah - Qatar), Hossam Abdel-Maguid, Ahmed Fattouh (Zamalek), Mohamed Abdel-Monem (Nice-France), Karim Hafez (Pyramids FC).
Midfielders: Marwan Attia, Ahmed Sayed Zizo, Emam Ashour, Mahmoud Trezeguet (Ahly), Mohanad Lashine, Nabil Emad Donga, Mahmoud Saber, Mustafa Zico (Pyramids FC), Ibrahim Adel (Al Jazeera - UAE), Haissam Hassan (Real Oviedo - Spain), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool - England).
Strikers: Omar Marmoush (Manchester City - England), Hamza Abdel-Karim (Barcelona - Spain).
* A version of this article appears in print in the 4 June, 2026 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.
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