FIFA has imposed severe sanctions on Egypt following their controversial 3-2 defeat by Argentina at the 2026 World Cup.
Head coach Hossam Hassan and his assistant Ibrahim Hassan have both been suspended for three matches. Forward Mostafa Zico has received a five-match ban after describing the tournament as “rigged”.
The punishments leave Egypt without their coaching team and leading forward for the coming months, adding to the uncertainty around the national side.
Egypt are due to face Malawi in a two-match 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying tie in November. The suspensions mean the team will be without both members of its technical staff and Mostafa Zico for those upcoming fixtures.
The Egyptian Football Federation has criticised the verdict as excessive and formally requested FIFA’s legal reasoning behind the sanctions.
It is also preparing an appeal in an effort to reduce the length of the suspensions before Egypt’s next competitive commitments.