GAZA, (Palestine Foundation Information Center), The Egyptian national team’s celebration of reaching the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup was not limited to the unprecedented sporting achievement, but the moments of joy carried touching humanitarian messages, after the Palestinian cause topped the statements of the coach Hossam Hassan and the former Egyptian football star Mohamed Aboutrika, in a scene that reflected its permanent presence in the Egyptian sporting consciousness.
Following the victory over Australia on penalties, Hassan, directed a special message to the Palestinian people, stressing that their support and backing for the national team were not absent throughout the tournament’s journey.
Hassan said, “I dedicate the victory to the Palestinian people who have never let us down in their support.” He added, “My heart and soul are with the Palestinian people, and I thank them from all my heart because they are very happy for us… may Allah grant them victory and have mercy on their martyrs,” before repeating the dedication of the victory to the Egyptian and Palestinian peoples.
Hassan’s statements came in the wake of a historic night for Egyptian football, which witnessed the Pharoahs achieving their first victory in the knockout stages of the World Cup tournament, where he appeared moved after the final whistle, before leading his players in a prostration of gratitude on the pitch.
For his part, the former Egyptian national team star and analyst on the beIN Sports network, Mohamed Aboutrika, brought up the Palestinian cause during the analytical studio for the match, stressing that it forms an inherent part of the consciousness of Egyptians.
Aboutrika said, “We were raised on the Palestinian cause, the Palestinian cause is in the consciousness of the Egyptian people, people are experiencing genocide and despite that they celebrate the Egyptian national team, this is a blessing for the Egyptian national team players in particular.”
Aboutrika is known for his repeated positions supporting the Palestinian cause, as he has been keen to keep it present in various sporting forums, inside and outside the stadiums.
These statements coincided with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip circulating videos documenting their watching of the Egyptian national team’s matches and celebrating its qualification, despite the difficult humanitarian conditions experienced by the Strip. Since the start of the Pharoahs’ journey in the 2026 World Cup, many Palestinians have shown their support for the Egyptian national team, considering it the closest to their consciousness among the participating teams.
These positions reflect the depth of the historical and social relations that bring together the Egyptian and Palestinian peoples, which have repeatedly appeared in sporting and cultural positions, where the Palestinian cause has remained present in the statements and initiatives of many Egyptian athletes, confirming that sporting achievements are not separated from the humanitarian causes firmly rooted in the popular consciousness.
These messages come at a time when Palestinians in the Gaza Strip continue to face the repercussions of the ongoing war since October 2023, and the extensive human losses, great destruction, and worsening humanitarian crises it has left behind.
The words of Hossam Hassan and Mohamed Aboutrika after the qualification carried a clear symbolic significance, meaning that the joy of the footballing achievement did not obscure the presence of the Palestinian cause in the hearts and minds of Egyptian football stars.
