Barcelona Backs Hamza Abdel Karim Ahead of Egypt-Belgium World Cup Opener

Barcelona’s official account expressed its support for player Hamza Abdel Karim, a forward for both the club and the Egyptian national team, ahead of Egypt’s match against Belgium in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Hamza Abdel Karim has been selected for the Egyptian national team for the first time by head coach Hossam Hassan, marking a significant milestone in his career as he competes in the World Cup.

The Egyptian team is set to face Belgium at Lumen Field in Seattle, USA, as part of the opening round of the tournament.

Egypt is placed in Group G of the 2026 World Cup alongside Belgium, Iran, and New Zealand, aiming to secure its first victory in World Cup history.

Barcelona shared a video of the 18-year-old player with a caption highlighting his achievement: “Hamza Abdel Karim: The first Egyptian player from Barcelona named in a World Cup squad. At just 18 years old, he can make his World Cup debut!”.

The Egyptian team enters this match with high hopes for a positive start against one of Europe’s strongest teams. The Pharaohs aim to achieve a favorable result that would boost their chances of advancing to the next round.

The coaching staff, led by Hossam Hassan, relies on the experience of international players such as Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush while focusing on defensive organization and quick counter-attacks.

This will be Egypt’s fourth appearance in the World Cup, following previous participations in 1934, 1990, and 2018. The team has yet to secure a win in any of these tournaments, adding extra significance to their match against Belgium.