Gianni Infantino’s Message to Egypt After Emotional World Cup Exit in Atlanta

FIFA's Gianni Infantino praised Egypt’s historic World Cup run on Instagram this week following their emotional knockout exit in Atlanta.

The tournament in North America will forever be remembered as a watershed moment for Egyptian football. The Pharaohs shattered expectations by advancing past the group stage for the very first time in their history.

Their memorable campaign included hard fought draws against heavyweights Belgium and Iran, alongside a commanding victory over New Zealand, marking Egypt's first ever group stage win at a World Cup finals.

The historic ride did not end there. Hossam Hassan’s men continued their giant killing run into the knockout rounds eliminating Australia in a tense penalty shootout during the Round of 32. Their journey was finally halted in the Round of 16 after a dramatic 3-2 defeat to Argentina.

The thrilling clash in Atlanta left fans polarized sparking fierce global debates over controversial refereeing decisions and prompting heated accusations from supporters regarding tournament favoritism toward the South American side.

The Presidential Tribute

Seeking to honor the North African side's incredible effort, FIFA President Gianni Infantino took to his official Instagram account to share a dedicated photo gallery of the Egyptian squad.

The global football chief accompanied the images with a heartfelt statement of gratitude.

"Thank you.. The 2026 World Cup will always hold a special place in the history of Egyptian football marking their first appearance in the knockout stages and their first victory in the group stage" Infantino wrote.

Infantino concluded his message by highlighting the global impact of the squad's performance stating that their journey served as a massive inspiration to fans both at home and across the globe creating lasting summer memories that will remain etched in the minds of the football community.

Khaled Hegazy |

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Journaliste sportif spécialisé dans la couverture du football et la création de contenu numérique, alliant expérience éditoriale et expertise des médias sociaux.

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