President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received a high-level FIFA delegation in Cairo during Egypt’s hosting of the second stop of the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour, part of the global promotional campaign for the expanded 2026 World Cup to be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
According to the Egyptian Presidency, the visit reflects Egypt’s standing on the international sports map and supports state objectives to promote sports tourism, encourage youth participation, and deepen public engagement with major global sporting events. The FIFA delegation praised Egypt’s advanced sports infrastructure and its long track record of successfully hosting regional and international tournaments, underscoring Cairo’s role as a key hub for major sporting events in the Middle East and Africa.
During the meeting, President El-Sisi expressed his hope for the success of the upcoming World Cup—the largest in FIFA’s history with 48 participating national teams—and voiced his aspiration for Egypt to host the tournament in the future. Official statements, however, stopped short of referencing any formal bid or target year.
Historically, Egypt had explored the possibility of bidding for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, including preliminary discussions around a joint bid with Greece and Saudi Arabia, but those plans were later shelved and did not result in a formal application. More recent statements from Egyptian football officials have pointed instead to interest in post-2030 participation, including the possibility of hosting selected matches in a future edition such as the 2034 World Cup, rather than mounting a standalone bid.
As of early 2026, Egypt’s World Cup ambitions remain strategic and long-term, framed around showcasing readiness, infrastructure, and organisational capacity, rather than a confirmed application for a specific tournament year.
