Hamza Abdelkarim, the young Egyptian promising talent who excites FC Barcelona and Egypt for the 2026 World Cup

The Egyptian coach Hossam Hassan has announced the list of 27 players for the 2026 World Cup, with the presence of young forward Hamza Abdelkarim standing out. After the friendly against Russia, 'The Pharaohs' will make one cut to finalize the squad of 26 players. Egyptian star Mohamed Salah will lead the team alongside Omar Marmoush. The absence of Mostafa Mohamed and the inclusion of Hamza Abdelkarim, a young promise from FC Barcelona, are surprising in the call-up. In Group G, Egypt will face Belgium, New Zealand, and Iran. This will be the fourth participation of the African country in the FIFA World Cup.

The new Salah at Barça

At just 18 years old, Hamza Abdelkarim has caught the attention of Barcelona, who has a buy option of 1.5 million euros for the Egyptian forward. He joined the club in February 2026 on loan from Al Ahly SC, making his debut in January 2025. Standing at 1.82 m tall, he is already being compared to 'the new Salah' in Egypt. In a match in early May, Hamza scored a hat-trick in just 15 minutes, showcasing his talent and potential.

Interest from top European clubs

Barcelona outpaced teams like Bayern Munich, Olympique Lyon, and AC Milan by securing the buy option for Hamza Abdelkarim. The Egyptian player has excelled in youth competitions, being monitored by the Catalan club since the U-17 World Cup and the U-17 African Cup. With a promising future, his presence in Egypt's list for the 2026 World Cup generates great excitement in the football world.

Egypt's official list for the 2026 World Cup

Goalkeepers: Mohamed El Shennawy, Mostafa Shobeir, El Mahdy Soliman, Mohamed Alaa. Defenders: Mohamed Hany, Tarek Alaa, Hamdi Fathi, Ramy Rabia, Yasser Ibrahim, Hossam Abdelmaguid, Mohamed Abdelmonem, Ahmed Fattouh, Karim Hafez. Midfielders: Marwan Attia, Mohannad Lasheen, Nabil Emad Dunga, Mahmoud Saber, Ahmed Sayed Zizo, Mahmoud Trezeguet, Emam Ashour, Mostafa Ziko, Ibrahim Adel, Haitham Hassan, Mohamed Salah. Forwards: Omar Marmoush, Aktay Abdullah, Hamza Abdelkarim.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Hamza Abdelkarim, la joven promesa egipcia que ilusiona al FC Barcelona y a Egipto para el Mundial 2026