Egypt Coach Hossam Hassan Goes Viral for Hugging Assistant Referee at World Cup

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan became the unexpected star of Monday night’s World Cup Group G opener between Egypt and Belgium, which ended 1-1. The match, played on June 16, 2026, in the United States, featured drama on the field, but Hassan’s behavior on the touchline drew the most attention.

Near the end of the game, with the score level at 1-1, Egypt surged forward and appeared to be denied a crucial penalty. The article says Belgium defender Maxim De Cuyper committed a foul inside the box, but the referee and assistant did not signal for a spot kick and allowed play to continue. Egypt’s bench reacted angrily, but Hassan responded in an unusual way.

Instead of confronting the officials directly, Hassan ran to the assistant referee and hugged him for an extended period, smiling bitterly while pointing out the mistake. The moment spread quickly across social media and was described by commentators as a creative, comic form of protest.

Hassan also produced another strange celebration earlier in the match, when Imad Ashour scored Egypt’s goal. Rather than jumping or pumping his fists, he twice touched his mouth in an odd gesture that left fans wondering whether it was a message to critics or another of the former striker’s superstitions.

Before kickoff, Hassan was also filmed handing out bottles of water to Egypt supporters in the stands after they asked him for help, a gesture that won praise and reinforced his image as a popular national figure in Egypt.