Haitham Hassan has captured the attention of the football world through his performances with the Egypt national team, delivering standout displays thanks to his pace and exceptional dribbling ability, establishing himself as one of the Pharaohs' most prominent new faces. But the player's story extends beyond the pitch, reaching back to deep Egyptian roots and Nubian heritage that made him determined to represent Egypt despite having multiple international options available to him.
Haitham Hassan was born on 8 February 2002 in the French city of Bagnolet and grew up in France, where he received his footballing education within French academies before beginning his professional career with French clubs. He subsequently moved to Spanish football, where he currently plays for Real Oviedo in Spain's Segunda División as a right winger, though he is also capable of playing on the left flank and in a playmaking role. He is contracted to the club until the summer of 2027.
Although born and raised in France, his father, Yousry Fouad Abdel Halim Hassan, hails from Aswan Governorate — specifically from Elephantine Island, one of the most historically renowned Nubian islands on the Nile. Family sources confirm that the family also traces its roots to the Toshka region of Aswan Governorate, which explains the player's enduring pride in his Egyptian Nubian origins.
His mother is Tunisian, a fact that gave the player ties to three countries: he was born in France, his father is from Egypt, and his mother is from Tunisia. This meant Haitham Hassan had the opportunity to represent more than one national team at international level.
Haitham played in France's youth age-group teams, and the Tunisian Football Association also attempted to recruit him; however, he ultimately made the decision to represent Egypt. Members of his family have revealed that the player was set on wearing the Pharaohs' shirt from the outset, resisting inducements and attempts to attract him to other national teams, before embarking on his international career with the Egyptian national team.
Haitham Hassan is distinguished by his high speed, his ability to dribble, and his capacity to burst through tight spaces — qualities that earned him widespread praise following his appearances with Egypt at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where many sports analysts considered him one of the tournament's most exciting discoveries and one of the players on whom Egyptian supporters are pinning their hopes for years to come.
After Egypt's round-of-16 match against Argentina at the 2026 World Cup, Haitham Hassan was among the most praised of Egypt's players — not only in the Egyptian media but also in the foreign press, which regarded his performance against the world champions as a turning point in his career.
What did Haitham Hassan deliver against Argentina?
Haitham Hassan started in Hossam Hassan's line-up and unsettled the Argentine defence from the opening minutes with his pace and dribbling, posing a constant threat on the left flank. He also contributed to rapid transition play and created more space for Mohamed Salah to operate in. Analysts were unanimous that the young winger was one of the key factors behind Egypt's dominance and their two goals against the Tango, before Argentina came back to win 3–2 in the final minutes.
What did the foreign press say about Haitham?
The most prominent praise came from the British website HITC, which published a report headlined: