Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan has said that Belgium enter their 2026 World Cup clash against the Pharaohs as the biggest favourites to win, while stressing that football does not recognise predictions and that his side will fight for every point in pursuit of a strong start at the tournament.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Hossam Hassan said that most predictions favour Belgium, adding: "If you asked everyone here who will win, 90 or 99% of them would say Belgium — but football is built on effort and hard work."
The Egypt coach said all teams in the group are chasing qualification to the next round, affirming that the Pharaohs share that same ambition and are determined to collect points and compete for a place in the next stage.
Hossam Hassan recalled his memories of facing Belgium as a player, saying he had beaten them before and hopes to repeat that — only this time in his capacity as Egypt's head coach.
He also addressed the threat posed by Belgium's players, particularly Jérémy Doku, noting that the Egyptian squad contains standout individuals and talented players capable of making a strong impression at the tournament.
The Pharaohs' coach defended his decision to include young striker Hamza Abdel Karim, the Barcelona player, saying he had followed him with the youth team and not only at club level, and that training sessions revealed the striker possesses the qualities of a powerful and intelligent forward.
Hossam Hassan noted that Hamza's time at Barcelona has given him a strong professional character, expressing confidence in the player's ability to leave his mark both at the Spanish club and with the Egyptian national team in the period ahead.
The Egypt coach explained that his squad selections were based on his technical vision, pointing out that the inclusion of Mostafa Zico came at the right time following his impressive performances in the Egyptian league.
Hossam Hassan addressed comparisons between Mohamed Salah and Romelu Lukaku, stressing that Belgium possess many stars and are not a danger that rests on Lukaku alone, while emphasising his desire for all Egypt players to perform at their best rather than relying solely on Salah's brilliance.
Hossam Hassan revealed that his goal since taking charge has been to build a strong generation for the future — one that is not affected by the absence of any player through retirement or injury — underlining that the current work targets the World Cup and future tournaments alike.
The Egypt coach praised the role of his brother Ibrahim Hassan, the team's director, in preparing the players psychologically for a competition of the World Cup's magnitude, after the presence of the twins together drew interest from some foreign journalists at the conference.
Hossam Hassan closed his remarks by reaffirming his confidence in the Egyptian national team, noting that the squad had delivered strong performances against major teams in recent times and that he hopes to repeat that against Belgium.
Egypt face Belgium in their opening game of the 2026 World Cup, in Group 7 which also includes Iran and New Zealand, on Monday at 11:00 p.m. UAE time.