Egypt national team head coach Hossam Hassan called on the world to let the Palestinian people live in peace, delivering a humanitarian message from the World Cup platform during the pre-match press conference ahead of Egypt's round-of-16 clash against Argentina at the 2026 World Cup. He also stressed that his side respects all opponents but fears none.
Hassan affirmed that Egypt enter the Argentina match with full confidence in their own abilities, saying the coaching staff does not look at the opponent's name or the colour of their shirt, but focuses on imposing their own style on the pitch. He added that he told his players roughly two and a half years ago that they must hold to their way of playing regardless of the opponent's strength, noting that this approach was evident in the friendly matches against Spain and Brazil, as well as in the match against Belgium at the World Cup.
He explained that Egypt have known from the start of their preparations that they would face strong sides at the tournament, and that reaching the round of 16 means facing one of the world's top teams. He stressed his respect for Argentina as reigning champions and for their stars, headed by Lionel Messi, but emphasised that the focus is entirely on what his players deliver on the pitch, after a period of clear technical and tactical development.
He noted that participating in the World Cup is an opportunity that does not come around often for players and coaches alike, describing the tournament as an occasion to showcase the strength of Egyptian, Arab, and African football, and expressing his hope to continue the journey and bring joy to the fans.
He revealed that the preparation window between the round-of-32 match against Australia and the Argentina fixture was short, pointing out that the coaching staff was forced to cancel a training session due to rain and flooding, before settling for a group session lasting between 40 and 50 minutes, supplemented by tactical lectures on the pitch and via video. He noted that the players needed to reduce their physical load due to fatigue, but expressed satisfaction with the preparations, confirming that the team is ready for the match and has a genuine chance to compete for a place in the quarter-finals.
Hassan addressed his decision to carry the Palestinian flag after the Australia match, affirming that his stance stems from a personal humanitarian conviction. He said that anyone who does not feel the suffering of the Palestinian people does not deserve to be called a human being, regardless of their nationality or religion. He added that many organisations mobilise when an animal is harmed, while Palestinians are living in harsh conditions in the open air, with children and women suffering from hunger, disease, and a lack of basic necessities.
He added that thousands of victims have fallen while many people continue their lives as normal, calling on decision-makers to imagine the suffering of children living in streets and tents in rain, cold, and heat. He stressed that what Palestinians are enduring demands action from the international community, and that respect for human life must be a priority — just as FIFA calls for respect and sportsmanship.
He underlined that his message was delivered through football as a soft power capable of reaching the entire world, directing an appeal to athletes and media professionals to use the World Cup to advocate for peace. He said: "Please, let the Palestinian people live — they want nothing but to live," words that were met with applause from a number of those present at the press conference.