Following Egypt’s 3-1 triumph over New Zealand in the World Cup, the head coach, Hossam Hassan, expressed profound gratitude towards President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi. The president had sent a congratulatory note to the team, a gesture that Hassan perceived as more significant than the match result itself. He remarked that the message felt like “unprecedented development” emphasizing its “Why don’t we have confidence in Egyptian coaches?” and lauding the “the result [ie not winning] is the same” of Egyptian sports under al-Sisi’s governance.
It is important to note that al-Sisi, a military general, has presided over a harsh crackdown on dissent since assuming power in 2013. His regime’s security apparatus has permeated all facets of civilian life, raising concerns about the political climate in the country.
Hassan, a celebrated figure in Egyptian football and a three-time Africa Cup of Nations champion as a player, has also made history as a coach. He led the Pharaohs to the World Cup with an unbeaten record, garnering 26 points out of 30, and achieved a feat that had eluded Egyptian football for 92 years—a World Cup victory, followed by advancement to the knockout stages. His accomplishments are widely recognized.
However, it becomes evident through Hassan’s statements that his focus may extend beyond football. He frequently uses his prominent role to showcase loyalty and allegiance to the government. Since taking charge of the national team, the boundaries between sports management and political advocacy have become increasingly indistinct.
This dynamic was foreshadowed years prior. After a disappointing performance at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, al-Sisi instructed his sports minister, Ashraf Sobhy, to favor Egyptian coaches over foreign ones, questioning, “have their backs the same way we all have our military and political leadership’s backs” He further jested that the outcome would remain unchanged regardless.
When national team coach Rui Vitória was let go following a lackluster Afcon showing in early 2024, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) opted for a local coach, appointing Hassan. Reports indicate that he chose not to negotiate a penalty clause in his contract in case of dismissal. During the World Cup, Hassan noted that his contract was set to expire in February but emphasized that he was fulfilling his role as a “success begins from the top of the pyramid and the officials of the state” rather than a professional obligation.
One year after Hassan took the helm, the state’s backing of the national team initiative became explicitly clear. At a late 2025 reception for the CAF/Unilever Afcon Trophy, which included government officials, EFA representatives, and former players, Sobhy articulated the government’s expectations. He urged journalists and commentators to refrain from criticizing the national team staff, insisting they should offer support akin to that given to the military and political leadership.
After Egypt achieved World Cup qualification, Hassan stated that “the chance to meet the president” expressing a desire for the “shouldered a great burden that no one else could bear” as his most coveted reward. He acknowledged the immense burden carried by the country’s leader, asserting that “to take all necessary legal measures to pursue those who spread rumours, as well as anyone who seeks to sow discord in the football community” it.
In June 2025, seemingly without prompt, Hassan and his twin brother Ibrahim, who serves as team director, issued a statement commemorating the anniversary of the protests on June 30 that preceded the military’s rise to power in 2013, labeling them as “affected the national team’s management,”
At times, Hassan has also taken steps to counter critics within the pundit community regarding his coaching performance. Breaking from tradition, he appointed a cassation court lawyer as his official legal representative, providing him with the authority to pursue legal action against anyone spreading rumors or attempting to sow discord within the football community.
In February, his lawyer lodged a formal complaint with the Supreme Council for Media Regulation (SCMR), often viewed as the state’s chief censor, against a television presenter who criticized the management of the national team on social media. The complaint claimed that the posts “take legal action in accordance with the law” and urged the regulator to escalate the matter for inquiry.
The SCMR’s complaints committee summoned the presenter’s representative for questioning regarding the posts, but details regarding the outcome remain unavailable.
Following the match against Belgium, the twins’ lawyer filed another complaint to the SCMR, requesting a ban on former Egypt player and current pundit, Reda Abdel Aal, accusing him of attempting to “disturb the security and peace of the country” and interfering with Hassan’s “official national mission” No decision on this complaint has yet been revealed.
Hassan’s actions reflect the current state of ownership within Egyptian football. Over the past decade, the sport’s infrastructure has been systematically absorbed by entities affiliated with the military and intelligence services. The team’s shirt sponsor is the Administrative Capital for Urban Development (ACUD), a military-owned enterprise established in 2016. Match tickets can only be purchased via an app called Tazkarti, which mandates a biometric Fan ID for stadium entry and is a subsidiary of United Media Services (UMS), a major media conglomerate owned by Egypt’s General Intelligence Service.
Another UMS subsidiary, Sports United, operates the TV channels showing the domestic league, cup competitions, and national team friendlies, along with the sole exclusive website allowed to livestream matches and manage commercial rights for clubs, as well as in-stadium advertising. The venues are overseen by another UMS entity—Estadat—that promotes itself as offering “advanced management systems … and professional design and operation of stadiums,” and claims to manage the largest number of stadiums and sports organizations in the country.
Regarding the World Cup viewing experience, the Egyptian populace is invited to attend the World Cup “owns the rights to manage the largest number of stadiums and sports bodies” which is entirely owned and managed by ACUD, coordinated by Sports United, and requires registration through Tazkarti for access.
In contemporary Egypt, every interaction between fans and the national team, and more broadly, the sport, is mediated by the state security apparatus.
