Egypt defender Hossam Abdelmaguid says his dream of playing at the FIFA World Cup has become a reality much earlier than he ever imagined, with the 25-year-old hoping to help his country make a memorable impact at the tournament in North America.

Fresh from winning the Egyptian Premier League title with Zamalek, Abdelmaguid is focused on helping Egypt achieve more than just their first-ever World Cup match victory.

“Playing in the World Cup has always been a dream of mine,” Abdelmaguid told Reuters in a Zoom interview. “When I was young, my older brother would often talk about the tournament, and I remember telling him that one day I would play there myself.

“I always hoped it would happen, but I never expected it to come true so quickly, only three years after breaking into the first team.”

Egypt have been drawn in Group G alongside Belgium, New Zealand and Iran, raising hopes among supporters that the Pharaohs can enjoy one of their best World Cup campaigns.

Despite the growing excitement, Abdelmaguid insists the squad is staying grounded.

“Our fans have every right to dream, and we also have every right to aim for the knockout rounds,” he said.

“Supporters can dream of winning the tournament, but every team faces different challenges. I believe we have the ability to get through the group stage and make a strong run in the competition.

“Our goal is to win every match. If we can’t win, then we must avoid defeat. We are determined to give everything for our country.”

Abdelmaguid also highlighted the quality within Egypt’s squad, pointing to players such as Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush, Liverpool star Mohamed Salah and highly rated 18-year-old striker Hamza Abdelkarim, who is currently on loan at Barcelona from Al Ahly.

He credited head coach Hossam Hassan for instilling confidence throughout the team.

“Coach Hossam Hassan constantly encourages us and reminds us that we are capable of achieving something special. His belief gives us confidence that we can make Egypt proud at the World Cup,” Abdelmaguid said.

Iran Situation Not a Distraction

Questions have surrounded Iran’s participation in the World Cup due to ongoing tensions in the Middle East. Tehran had requested that its matches be moved away from the United States, but FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed that the tournament schedule would remain unchanged.

Abdelmaguid said the uncertainty surrounding Iran has not affected Egypt’s preparations.

“I haven’t paid much attention to those reports because they don’t concern us,” he said. “If I spend my time thinking about Iran, I might overlook Belgium and that could cost us.”

Egypt’s group-stage opponents all possess powerful centre-forwards, meaning Abdelmaguid could find himself tasked with containing Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku, New Zealand captain Chris Wood and Iran forward Mehdi Taremi.

The defender revealed he has already begun studying the trio in detail.

“They are all top-class players, but I don’t fear them because I represent Egypt,” he said. “I focus on understanding their strengths and movements. I regularly watch footage with my performance analyst and also review them during sessions with Hossam Hassan.”

Inspired by “Captain Hossam”

Hossam Hassan made history by becoming the first Egyptian to qualify for the World Cup as both a player and a coach. He famously scored the goal that sent Egypt to the 1990 World Cup and later guided the national team back to the tournament 36 years later for their fourth appearance.

According to Abdelmaguid, the experience and leadership of Hassan and his brother Ibrahim Hassan, the team’s director, have played a crucial role in preparing the squad for the world’s biggest football stage.

“To us, he is Captain Hossam before he is the national team coach,” Abdelmaguid said. “The same applies to Captain Ibrahim. We don’t see them as people who will simply come and go. Their connection with Egyptian football is much deeper than that.”

“We’re fortunate to have someone with such a remarkable history leading us. Beyond tactics and coaching, his experience gives us confidence, and that confidence helps us perform.”

As a player, Hassan was involved in one of Egypt’s most memorable World Cup moments, helping the team earn a 1-1 draw against European champions the Netherlands in 1990 after winning a late penalty.

“Football may have changed over the years, but the atmosphere of the World Cup remains the same,” Abdelmaguid said. “In that match against the Netherlands, he competed on equal terms with legends like Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Ronald Koeman. That’s the mentality he tries to pass on to us every day.”