* Hossam Hassan waves Palestinian flag after Pharaohs reach Round of 16 for first time
Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan celebrated his country’s historic qualification for the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup by carrying the Palestinian flag onto the pitch and dedicating the victory to both the Egyptian and Palestinian people.
The emotional gesture came after Egypt defeated Australia 4 to 2 on penalties following a 1 to 1 draw after extra time in Arlington, Texas, becoming the country’s first ever winners of a knockout match at a FIFA World Cup.
As players and supporters celebrated the landmark achievement, Hassan emerged onto the field holding both the Egyptian and Palestinian flags while fans chanted in support of Palestine.
Speaking after Friday’s victory over Australia, the former Egypt captain dedicated the historic win to the Palestinian people, expressing solidarity with those affected by the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
“I dedicate this victory to the Egyptian people and the kind and honourable Palestinian people. My heart and soul are with them. May Allah protect the living and have mercy on the martyrs,” Hassan said during a post match interview.
Hassan also thanked Egyptian supporters for standing behind the team throughout the tournament.
“I am very happy and I thank Allah for rewarding us because of the good people of Egypt and our fans everywhere. We have honoured Egypt, the Arab world and Africa,” he added.
Egypt reached the Round of 16 after overcoming Australia in a tense penalty shootout, with all four Egyptian spot kicks finding the net.
Hassan revealed that before the shootout he encouraged his players to ignore the pressure and focus only on taking their penalties.
“I told them not to think about the pressure or the crowd. Just focus on your penalty kick,” he said, praising his players for their composure during one of the biggest moments in Egyptian football history.
The victory marks Egypt’s first ever progression beyond the opening knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup and represents one of the country’s greatest football achievements.
The gesture immediately drew widespread attention across the Arab and Muslim world, with many supporters praising Hassan for using the global stage to express solidarity with the Palestinian people.
His celebration also revived memories of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where the Palestinian cause became one of the tournament’s defining symbols despite Palestine not qualifying for the competition.
During the Qatar World Cup, Morocco’s players repeatedly celebrated with Palestinian flags after their victories over Belgium, Spain and Portugal on their historic journey to the semi finals. The Atlas Lions, led by captain Achraf Hakimi, frequently carried the Palestinian flag during their post match celebrations, while thousands of supporters from across the Arab world displayed Palestinian flags inside stadiums and fan zones throughout the tournament.
Those displays transformed the Palestinian flag into one of the most recognisable symbols of the 2022 World Cup and were widely regarded as an expression of solidarity shared by many Arab and Muslim fans.
Hassan’s decision to raise the Palestinian flag after Egypt’s historic qualification has therefore been viewed by many as a continuation of that tradition, once again bringing the Palestinian cause into the spotlight at football’s biggest tournament.
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