Ashraf Qassem: Brazil Match Crucial for Egypt’s World Cup Preparation

Ashraf Qassem, a former star of Egyptian football, emphasized the significance of Egypt’s upcoming friendly match against Brazil as a vital opportunity for the national team to solidify its lineup ahead of the 2026 World Cup. He stressed the importance of relying on the core squad during this encounter.

Speaking on the program “Ya Masaa Al-Anwar” hosted by Medhat Shalaby on MBC Masr 2, Qassem noted that the coaching staff made numerous substitutions during the recent friendly against Russia. He highlighted that this phase requires establishing a consistent starting lineup in preparation for official matches.

Qassem expressed his belief that the match against Brazil will heavily feature the primary squad, especially with only eight days separating the friendly from Egypt’s opening game against Belgium in the World Cup. He stated, “I believe the team should field about 90% of its core players who will participate in the tournament.”.

He further explained that deploying key players against a team like Brazil would allow the coaching staff to assess their technical and physical conditions before entering competitive play. Qassem asserted that this match serves as a genuine test for Egypt ahead of their World Cup campaign.

The former Zamalek and Egyptian national team player also underscored the importance of psychological preparation for players. He urged head coach Hossam Hassan to mentally ready his squad for facing Brazil, treating the match as an opportunity to enjoy playing against one of the world’s top teams while also gaining valuable insights ahead of the tournament.

Qassem also discussed Egypt’s group in the World Cup, identifying Belgium as their strongest competitor. He pointed out that securing a positive result against them would be crucial for Egypt’s journey in the tournament.

He remarked, “Belgium is the strongest team in our group, so achieving a positive result against them is extremely important. Even if we don’t win, a draw would be considered a good outcome at the start of our campaign.”.

In closing, he affirmed that Egypt has a significant opportunity to continue competing after facing Belgium. He noted that victory over New Zealand would provide a strong morale boost before taking on Iran. Additionally, he highlighted that the tournament format offers chances for qualification through finishing either first or second or as one of the best third-placed teams, enhancing Egypt’s prospects of advancing to the next round.