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

Hosam Hassan, coach of Egypt's national football team, stood by his decision to raise the Palestinian flag after Egypt's first-ever knockout stage victory at the 2026 World Cup. Following Egypt's penalty shootout win over Australia in the round of 32, Hassan dedicated the triumph to "Palestinian martyrs," emphasizing his personal conviction and refusal to apologize for the gesture. In an interview on ON channel's "With Mona El-Shazly," he said the act was spontaneous and driven by empathy for Palestinians suffering recent hardships, stating, "It is shameful if we are not human and do not feel their pain."

Hassan also addressed his protests during Egypt's 3-2 loss to Argentina in the round of 16, where he made an X sign with his hands to signal against refereeing errors. He explained that the gesture was aligned with FIFA's anti-discrimination rules and was meant to express his frustration with officiating mistakes. Although the referee nearly sent him off, the decision was reversed.

Regarding a post-match encounter with Lionel Messi, Hassan revealed he was surprised by Messi's approach but chose not to engage in conversation. He believed Messi recognized how challenging Egypt made the match, noting Messi's emotional reaction. Hassan avoided any verbal confrontation with the Argentine star.

The controversy around Hassan's flag-waving and his outspoken stance has drawn significant attention, especially among Israeli audiences, highlighting the intersection of sports and political expression at the World Cup.