2026 World Cup: A look back at Egypt's three previous appearances | OneFootball

A look back at Egypt's three appearances at the World Cup

Egypte/@Ouest France

By defeating Djibouti, Egypt secured top spot in Group A and booked their ticket to the 2026 World Cup. This marks the Pharaohs' fourth appearance at football's grandest stage. Let's revisit their first three campaigns.

Italy 1934

Egypt became the first African team to ever compete in a World Cup finals, making their debut in 1934 in Italy.

The Pharaohs played just one match, exiting in the opening round after a 4-2 defeat to Hungary. Abdelrahmen Faouzi netted a brace, becoming the first African goalscorer in World Cup history.

Italy 1990

Fifty-six years later, Egypt returned to the World Cup, once again on Italian soil, marking the longest gap between appearances in tournament history. Drawn in Group F, they finished bottom after two draws against the Netherlands (1-1) and the Republic of Ireland (1-1), plus a narrow loss to England (0-1).

Russia 2018

The third appearance also ended in disappointment. Mohamed Salah and his teammates were eliminated at the group stage, losing all three Group A matches to Uruguay (0-1), Russia (1-3), and Saudi Arabia (1-2). Liverpool's star striker scored both of Egypt's goals in the tournament.