El Shenawy: My Dream is to Lead Egypt to Win the 2026 World Cup

Mohamed El-Shenawy, the captain and goalkeeper of the Egyptian national team, affirmed that the "Pharaohs" are entering the 2026 World Cup finals with great ambitions, emphasizing that the experiences the team has gained over the past years give them the ability to deliver an outstanding performance and go far in the tournament.

El-Shenawy said in statements to the official website of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) that participating in the World Cup is a dream for every football player, adding: "I achieved this dream in the 2018 edition, and now I am preparing to experience it again, which is a source of pride for me."

The Egyptian national team goalkeeper explained that the journey to qualify for the 2026 World Cup was different from before, stating: "We were highly focused throughout the qualifiers, and despite the difficulty of the journey, the early victories gave us a strong boost and helped us continue steadily on the path."

El-Shenawy spoke about his memories from the 2018 World Cup, saying: "I vividly remember receiving the Man of the Match award in my first World Cup appearance. It was an exceptional moment, especially since the Egyptian national team returned to the tournament after a 28-year absence, and everyone was filled with excitement and anticipation before the match."

He added: "We were aware that we represented the entire Egyptian people, so we entered the competitions with high spirits and a strong desire to present an honorable image. Winning the Best Player of the Match award was a culmination of the efforts of the entire group."

The captain of the "Pharaohs" emphasized that the team is now more prepared compared to their previous participation, explaining: "In 2018, we lacked experience due to a long absence from the World Cup, but things have changed now. We have played many matches against major teams and gained important experience that makes us more ready to handle the tournament atmosphere."

El-Shenawy pointed out that experienced players, led by Mohamed Salah and Mahmoud Hassan "Trezeguet," will work to assist the rest of the team members, saying: "We have a group that knows the World Cup atmosphere well, and we will transfer this experience to our teammates to quickly adapt to the tournament's demands."

The Egyptian national team goalkeeper emphasized that ambition does not stop at mere participation, adding: "Our primary goal is to qualify for the knockout stages, then advance step by step. But if you ask me about my personal dream, I will say clearly that I am determined to win the World Cup, despite being aware of the difficulty of the task."

Regarding the upcoming match against Belgium in the opening of the team's journey in Group G, El Shenawy said: "It will be a very important match for us, as the circumstances are different this time, and we must enter the game with great confidence. We know the value of the opponent, but we will give our all to achieve a positive result."

The Egyptian national team will begin its journey in the 2026 World Cup as part of Group G, which includes Belgium, Iran, and New Zealand, with high hopes of achieving a historic accomplishment in the tournament.