In June 1930, the SS Florida set off from Marseille carrying the Yugoslavian football team to the first World Cup in Uruguay. Egypt's national team was meant to join them, but their boat from Africa was delayed by a stormy Mediterranean Sea, causing them to miss the connection. This ill-fated journey set the tone for Egypt's World Cup history: a story of missed opportunities.
Egypt are giants of African football but minnows on the World Cup stage. They reached the 1934 tournament in Italy, losing 4-2 to Hungary in a straight knockout format. They did not qualify again until 1990, when they failed to win a game against England, the Republic of Ireland, and the Netherlands. In 2018, they again lost all three group matches against Uruguay, Russia, and Saudi Arabia. In three World Cups, Egypt have played seven matches, losing five and drawing two.
This year, Egypt are grouped with Belgium, Iran, and New Zealand. Their attack is led by Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush. According to African football expert Ali Howorth, “Salah single-handedly dragged them to the 2018 World Cup but he has not won anything with them.” After Salah's injury in the 2018 Champions League final, he played in the World Cup despite not being fully fit, and Egypt had a poor tournament.
Eight years on, Egypt's hopes are still pinned on Salah, who turned 34 on the day of their opener against Belgium. Howorth notes, “There is a sense that this is Salah’s last chance to do something really great with Egypt.” Manager Hossam Hassan employs a counter-attacking style, with Marmoush yet to fully fulfil his potential alongside Salah. Egypt kept eight clean sheets in qualification and shut out Spain in a friendly, but they have never won a World Cup match.
Egypt expects a first victory at the finals, and progression from the group will rely on their star duo. Howorth adds, “There is a lot of hysteria in Egypt around the World Cup, mainly because they simply have not achieved what they should have achieved.”
