Egypt Coach Dedicates World Cup Win Over Australia to Palestine as Gaza Celebrates
Egypt coach Hossam Hassan dedicated his team’s historic World Cup knockout victory over Australia to the people of Palestine, as celebrations erupted across Gaza and the wider Arab world.
Egypt advanced to the Round of 16 after a dramatic 4–2 penalty shootout win following a 1–1 draw in regular and extra time at Dallas Stadium. The victory marked Egypt’s first-ever World Cup knockout win, with Hossam Abdelmaguid scoring the decisive penalty.
After the match, Hassan expressed solidarity with Palestinians, saying he dedicated the win to both the Egyptian and Palestinian people and offered prayers for those affected by the ongoing conflict. He later carried both the Egyptian and Palestinian flags onto the pitch in celebration.
In Gaza, residents watched the match at public screenings set up among damaged buildings and tents. Despite difficult conditions, many celebrated Egypt’s win, sharing footage of crowds cheering in the streets and temporary shelters.
Social media posts described emotional scenes of families and children gathering to watch the match, seeing it as a rare moment of joy amid hardship.
The match also came after reports of a brief altercation involving Egypt team members and police in Dallas, which was later resolved by local authorities.
