Mohamed El-Shenawy Aims for World Cup Glory with Egypt in 2026

Mohamed El-Shenawy, the goalkeeper for Egypt’s national team and Al Ahly, has expressed his ambitions ahead of the 2026 World Cup, stating that his ultimate dream is to win the championship, despite the challenges that lie ahead.

In an interview with FIFA’s official website, El-Shenawy remarked, “The World Cup is a unique event for any player. For me, it was a dream come true in 2018, and now I am preparing to participate for the second time. Representing Egypt on this stage is a significant honor.”.

He noted that the qualification journey this time was relatively easier, saying, “We were highly focused during the qualifiers, and our early victories gave us a strong boost that made the rest of the journey smoother.”.

Reflecting on his memories from the 2018 World Cup, he described it as an unforgettable experience, especially since it marked Egypt’s first appearance after a 28-year absence. “We were so excited that we couldn’t sleep before our first match,” he added.

El-Shenawy acknowledged that a lack of experience was one of the main challenges during the 2018 tournament but emphasized that the team has gained valuable experience since then, which could help them perform better this time.

He set a realistic goal for the team: to advance to the knockout stages. “Our first aim is to get past the group stage and then take things step by step in subsequent rounds,” he stated.

The goalkeeper highlighted the importance of experienced players like Mohamed Salah and Trezeguet in sharing their knowledge with other team members. He believes this will help everyone adapt to the tournament atmosphere more effectively.

“We are preparing well through friendly matches against strong teams, which will enhance our readiness before the tournament begins,” he said.

Regarding their opening match against Belgium, El-Shenawy said, “It’s going to be a significant challenge; circumstances are different this time. We need to enter with confidence and focus to achieve a positive result.”.

He concluded his remarks by reiterating his dream of winning the World Cup: “It’s a difficult task, but we believe in our ability to achieve something that will make Egyptian fans proud.”.