Egypt Coach Hosam Hassan Proudly Waves Palestinian Flag After Historic World Cup Win

Hosam Hassan, the coach of Egypt's national football team, stood firm on his decision to wave the Palestinian flag after Egypt's first-ever victory in a World Cup knockout stage. The win came on July 14, 2026, when Egypt defeated Australia on penalties in the round of 32. Hassan dedicated the victory to the "Palestinian martyrs," emphasizing his personal conviction and refusal to regret the gesture. In an interview on ON channel's "With Mona Al-Shazly," he said, "I am proud to have raised the Palestinian flag. It is shameful if we are not human and do not feel their pain," referring to the suffering of Palestinian children over the past two years.

Hassan explained that his action was spontaneous and motivated by empathy for Palestinians watching from America, who cheer for Egypt amid devastation. He also addressed his protest against refereeing decisions during Egypt's 3-2 loss to Argentina in the round of 16, where he made an X sign with his hands to signal FIFA's anti-discrimination rules. He said, "I suffered a lot during the game and tried to act with dignity and according to FIFA laws. The sign meant 'enough, this cannot continue.' The referee almost sent me off but reconsidered."

Regarding his post-match encounter with Lionel Messi, Hassan revealed surprise but declined to engage in conversation. He believed Messi recognized Egypt had challenged Argentina significantly, noting Messi's tears after the match. Hassan stated, "I did not try to get into a verbal confrontation with him."