Egypt coach celebrates World Cup win for Palestine as Arab nations celebrate | World Cup 2026 news

Fans in Gaza celebrated Egypt’s victory in a match held behind bombed buildings.

The coach of the Egyptian team Hossam Hassan has given his team The World Cup has been won by Australia to the Palestinian people, who joined the rest of the Arab world in celebrating the historic victory overnight.

Egypt rallied to beat Australia 4-2 on penalties for their first World Cup win after a 1-1 draw after extra time in the Cagey Round of 32 match at Dallas Stadium on Friday.

Hossam Abdelmaguid scored the winner after Harry Souttar and Lucas Herrington missed 12 yards for the Australians, sending Egypt into the last 16 with either Argentina or Cape Verde.

Emam Ashour gave Egypt the lead in the 13th minute before Mohamed Hany’s goal 10 minutes into the second half extended the lead.

Speaking to the media after the match, Hassan said: “May Allah give them (the Palestinians) victory, may Allah have mercy on their martyrs.”

I say to them: I give this victory to the people of Egypt and the people of Palestine, those kind and honorable people.

Hassan carried the Egyptian and Palestinian flags on the pitch after the victory, which was the country’s first victory in their first World Cup knockout match, as the entire team knelt down in sujood.

Several Palestinian football fans took to social media to express their happiness with Egypt.

“For the first time, I am following the World Cup with such excitement,” Tahem Nahed from Gaza wrote on X.

“I was happy to see Egypt win a while ago, but the best sight was here…thousands of people came out of their tents and their destroyed houses to watch the game.

He wrote: “Faces seemed to be smiling, everyone was happy, and it was as if everyone decided to give themselves a moment to live despite what was happening around them.”

Television footage from the besieged Strip showed people gathered at the match show behind bombed-out buildings and makeshift tents, some smiling and carrying Egyptian flags that many children had painted on their faces.

A few hours before Egypt’s victory, members of the team took part in a competition arguing with the police which went viral on social media.

Egypt’s national team says a Dallas police officer shoved its manager, Ibrahim Hassan, and player Trezeguet as the pair tried to take pictures with fans at the team’s hotel on Friday.

Dallas police made it clear that the situation was resolved at the scene.